{"id":10253,"date":"2014-05-26T09:08:10","date_gmt":"2014-05-26T13:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gunpoliticsny.com\/?p=10253"},"modified":"2014-05-26T09:08:10","modified_gmt":"2014-05-26T13:08:10","slug":"hochul-not-helping-cuomo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gunpoliticsny.com\/?p=10253","title":{"rendered":"Hochul not helping Cuomo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why did Gov. Cuomo<\/a> choose former Congresswoman Kathy\u00a0Hochul<\/a> to be his running mate? \u00a0According to the Buffalo News<\/a>, to provide some cover for the SAFE Act:<\/p>\n

“… Besides geographic ticket balancing for an otherwise all-downstate slate for the party\u2019s three other statewide campaigns, Hochul offers some cover for Cuomo on a still-burning issue in many upstate communities: gun control. \u00a0In her 2012 congressional race, she was endorsed by the National Rifle Association<\/a>, whose leaders have been highly critical of Cuomo\u2019s SAFE Act gun control bill passed last year. \u00a0\u201cI think she helps with his support upstate and in Western New York where he was damaged a lot by the SAFE Act,\u201d said Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes<\/a>, a Buffalo Democrat who on Wednesday was named as the co-chairwoman of Cuomo\u2019s 2014 campaign with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.<\/a> \u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s probably a factor in all of this,\u201d Rep. Brian Higgins<\/a>, an Erie County Democrat, said of Hochul\u2019s cordial relations with gun groups that continue to fight the SAFE Act. \u201cShe\u2019s an upstate voice, including on this issue.\u201d …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I believe this is the first time elected Democrats have publicly admitted the SAFE Act isn’t as popular as the media keeps saying it is.<\/p>\n

“… Cuomo dismissed that theory. \u201cShe supports the SAFE Act,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not opposed to guns. I\u2019m a gun owner \u2026 I hunt. \u00a0I shoot.\u201d …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Still pandering to the Fudds, implying SAFE doesn’t affect them. \u00a0No mention of guns for self-defense.<\/p>\n

Now that Peoples and Higgins have established that Cuomo has an upstate popularity problem, how is Hochul’s pick going over downstate? \u00a0According to Fred Dicker<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“Gov. Cuomo\u2019s new running mate for lieutenant governor … is \u201c99 percent certain\u2019\u2019 to be challenged in the Democratic primary by a prominent anti-Cuomo \u201cprogressive\u2019\u2019 with millions to spend, The Post has learned. \u00a0Cuomo critic Bill Samuels<\/a> … told associates over the weekend that he\u2019s furious that Cuomo selected Hochul, a bank lobbyist, whom he described as \u201cout of step with the progressive reforms this state needs,\u2019\u2019 one source told The Post. \u00a0Samuels, 71, who told an associate that he\u2019s \u201c99 percent certain to run\u201d against Hochul in the September primary, has already begun planning a campaign built around appeals to Mayor de\u2009Blasio\u2019s<\/a> core supporters: labor unions, left-of-center activists …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is what opens the door for Rob Astorino<\/a>. \u00a0If there is high upstate voter turnout of people pissed at Cuomo along with\u00a0more low voter turnout in the City<\/a> because he doesn’t motivate them, Astorino can win in November.<\/p>\n