Mayor Bill de Blasio has spoken to his inner circle and allies about the candidate for governor, and sources say he is gaining more confidence that he can win.
“I fell out of my chair laughing, he thinks honestly about it,” said a former senior adviser. “Because of all these Cuomo’s, he feels courageous.”
Hizzoner played at stake all week when asked if he considered the work of his rival. “The future will take care of itself,” he grinned when a reporter asked the question on Thursday.
The public’s comments are not only intended to catch up with Cuomo’s government, but behind closed doors de Blasio speaks openly with advisers about the fact that he wants to act against him in a 2022 Democratic primary. De Blasio is limited to a term and will leave office at the end of this year, while Cuomo may be re-elected to a fourth term in November 2022.
The discussions come as Cuomo faces two major sins – a state attorney general’s investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by at least three women, and a federal investigation into his alleged cover-up of COVID-related deaths in the nursing home.
With Cuomo’s blood in the water, the mayoral team issued the major unions to measure support, including District Council 37, which represents public employees; the local 1199 SEIU union for health care workers; and the 32BJ Local SEIU, which has representatives from the construction workers, sources said.
“He’s calling his work friends,” said one operator. He’s interested. I think that no matter what – even if the governor goes on for a fourth term – De Blasio will elect him. ‘
Bill Neidhardt, de Blasio’s press secretary, said: “As reported a few weeks ago, the mayor is constantly in talks with friends from the labor movement about the future of progressive politics in New York City.”
De Blasio believes his own image of his low point resurfaced last year, when he played tumbling foil against Cuomo, while the governor’s popularity peaked during the early stages of the pandemic.
“The more he talks about it, the more he likes, ‘Maybe it’s not such a crazy idea … maybe I have a chance,'” the former senior adviser said of a term in office. “As described to me, he’s like talking himself into it.”
A longtime Albany insider said “de Blasio for governor” talks are gaining steam.
“I heard it was made more of a joke,” the source said. “It does not shock me. This is a man with a big ego, an inflated sense of self-worth. He is someone who elected him president, although it was clear he was never going to get traction. ”
A current City Hall official said they fully expect De Blasio to present.
“He elected him president. “It fits a pattern of delusions of grandeur,” the source said. “Of course he would like to be a political commentator, but if there is a way to make him eligible, he will strive for it.”
The bid would be just as long as its failed presidential election in 2020, Democratic strategists said.
“It’s surprising that after all this time he would think he could be elected in New York,” said Karen Hinton, a former press secretary for both de Blasio and Cuomo. “I’m not trying to take away from his accomplishments – I think he’s had a lot – but New York writers do not like him, and I find it hard to imagine that he could have reformed himself and been elected. It’s hard, but I think it’s obvious. ”
Hinton said she predicts he will move to a nonprofit or teaching or commenting.
A second former adviser agreed: ‘I thought he would take some time to regroup and think about what he wants to do next … I imagined he would do political experts and’ would offer a university course or two. But he recently publicly said he was not going to go to the private sector, so who knows. ”
Sources said de Blasio could face a stronger enemy than Cuomo if he seeks the governor’s mansion.
If Attorney General Letitia James ‘decides to run, she will have the support of the Brooklyn Democrats,’ said a party source, who noted that James started in New York politics as a board member in Brooklyn.
It is also unlikely that de Blasio will gain support for the Democratic Party’s powerful progressive wing over James.
“She is African-American, she is female. All those pull in her favor. The leftists really like her, “said the Albany insider.
A third former De Blasio operator said his former boss had a “shot” against a weakened Cuomo … but when he ran into an open field against Letitia James, [Long Island Rep.] Kathleen Rice and others, he probably has no chance. ”
Former De Blasio press secretary Eric Phillips has said he has not had any recent talks with the mayor about the government’s endeavors, but has defended his former boss’s record.
“There’s no doubt that it was fashionable not to like Bill de Blasio in July, but if you look back at the result, his report card will be pretty good,” Phillips said.
“I do not think the mayor is good at theater. He’s never been … Andrew Cuomo is terribly theatrical. ”
In July, De Blasio’s approval rating was 40 percent, while Cuomo’s 73 percent were popular, according to a poll by the Manhattan Institute.
The status of the governor has since declined. A new survey by Quinnipiac University found that 45 percent of New Yorkers approve of the task Cuomo does, while 46 percent do not.
But a strategist warned those against a fourth term from Cuomo.
“Do not underestimate Andrew Cuomo,” he said. “I do not think he is as finished as some people say he is. He still has the chance to save himself. ”