Former President Encourages New Yorkers to Support Ex-Governor in Mayoral Race
In a surprising and forceful endorsement, the former President is urging residents of The Big Apple to support the former Governor in the city's upcoming mayoral race.
"You may not have a personal liking towards the former governor, but you don't really have a choice. It's crucial that you vote for him and hope he does an exceptional job," the former President stated on a popular social media platform. He added that the former Governor "is capable of it," while the Democratic candidate "is not!"
The Impact of the Endorsement
The former President’s endorsement, while potentially boosting the ex-Governor's appeal among Republicans, could also alienate some of his Democratic supporters in the predominantly Democratic city. The Democratic candidate, who upset the ex-Governor in the Democratic primary, has consistently linked him to the former President, arguing that he would stand up to influential groups in both the city and the capital.
The former Governor, however, downplayed the endorsement, claiming that the ex-President was merely opposing his Democratic rival. “He’s not endorsing me. He’s opposing my opponent,” the former Governor stated.
The former President, who was born and raised in Queens, has long expressed his dissatisfaction with the young Democratic candidate, even inaccurately labeling him a communist. He also threatened to reduce federal funding to the city to a bare minimum if the young Democrat wins the election.
Reactions to the Endorsement
In response to the endorsement, the Democratic candidate claimed that the former President feels threatened by his campaign. "Like his (campaign), we’ve diagnosed the crisis in working class New Yorkers’ lives, the cost of living. But unlike him, we’re actually going to deliver on that. And that is a contrast that he can’t bear to see," the young Democrat stated.
The Democratic candidate further commented on the former President's support for the ex-Governor during a campaign event in his district. "The former President’s support of the ex-Governor reflects his belief that this would be the best mayor for him, not necessarily the best mayor for the city or its residents," the young Democrat stated.
The former President has previously shown lukewarm support for the ex-Governor, portraying the election as a choice between the lesser of two evils and disregarding the Republican candidate. "I’m not a fan of the ex-Governor one way or another, but if it’s going to be between a not-so-great Democrat and a communist, I’m going to pick the Democrat every time, to be honest with you," the ex-President stated in a televised interview.
The Democratic candidate quickly capitalized on these comments, congratulating the ex-Governor on his endorsement and cheekily adding, "I know how hard you worked for this."
Current Polling and Reactions
Most polls suggest that the young Democrat has a significant lead over the ex-Governor, with the Republican candidate trailing in third. However, the exact margin of the lead varies, with most polls suggesting that the Democrat is just shy of a majority.
The former President, without explicitly asking the Republican nominee to quit the race, discouraged voters from supporting him, claiming that voting for him would indirectly support his Democratic opponent.
One influential businessman and ally of the former President also threw his support behind the ex-Governor over the two other candidates. "Keep in mind that voting for the Republican candidate is essentially a vote for the Democrat or whatever his name is," the businessman stated on a social media platform.
The former Governor has had a long and often contentious relationship with the former President, dating back to his tenure as Governor. Despite resigning from his position in the wake of sexual harassment allegations, which he denies, the ex-Governor has touted his dealings with the former President as a bonus for the city, arguing that his young opponent lacks the experience to deal effectively with the ex-President.
"You will hear the ex-Governor talk about his experience as if we aren’t aware of it," the young Democrat retorted during a debate. "The problem is, we have all experienced your experience."
The former President, who spent Monday night holding virtual rallies for audiences in other states, used social media to criticize the current Governor of the state, who campaigned with the young Democrat over the weekend.
He accused her of "destroying the entire region with skyrocketing energy prices" and indicated he would ask the Secretary of Transportation "to seriously consider ending the city's congestion pricing."