Political tactics on display in Cuomo cross-endorsement

The timeworn tactics of wielding leverage, suppressing tensions, and trying to cut things both ways went on full display Sunday as the Working Families Party announced, as many expected, that it will cross-endorse Democrat Andrew Cuomo for governor.

First, the leverage: A party loses automatic ballot status without 50,000 votes on its line for governor. Because Republican candidates for governor condemn this party, the WFP had to choose between backing Cuomo or having its ballot status threatened with a lesser-known candidate.

Second, the tensions: The labor-union-backed party in the last legislative session urged higher taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and opposed a mandatory property-tax cap in the form proposed. Yet Cuomo calls in his platform for a tax freeze as well as the cap. The party indicates it will back the platform.

Third, the both-ways cut: Cuomo has the twin goals of seeking to persuade taxpayers of his fiscal frugality without declaring all out war on organized labor.

Naturally, his potential GOP opponents don't want to give him that kind of room. Rick Lazio called WFP "a fringe group that embodies everything that is wrong with Albany." Carl Paladino's spokesman called the endorsement "theater" and a prelude to "pigs at a trough" getting hungry again.

WFP official Dan Cantor said the party's executive committee unanimously went for Cuomo - as did a swath of major unions - with the proviso that "this is a pivotal moment" when "leaders in the labor, civic, business and political arena must put aside their individual agendas for the good of the entire state."

Cuomo said: "Passage of our reform agenda in Albany next year just took a giant step forward."

TURNOUT TREND: New York is one of seven states holding party primaries Tuesday. Most others already held theirs for 2010. Curtis Gans, director of American University's Center for the Study of the American Electorate, finds an intriguing trend: In 35 states analyzed, "the average percentage of eligible citizens who voted in Democratic primaries was the lowest ever" - 8.3 percent, he says. Meanwhile "the average percentage of citizens who voted in the GOP statewide primaries was the highest since 1970" - 10.5 percent. The center says this signals "deep trouble" nationally for Democrats.