Cuomo Announces Campaign for Governor

Cuomo Announces Campaign for Governor
By DANNY HAKIM
Copyright by Bloomberg News
Published: May 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/nyregion/23cuomo.html?hp


Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced his campaign for governor with a video released early Saturday morning, finally making official his entrance into the race for governor this fall.

Mr. Cuomo’s announcement comes only days before the state Democratic convention is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Rye Brook, N.Y., and follows months of private planning. Mr. Cuomo has no competition for the Democratic nomination and has been moving to assert control over the state party, and the 2010 ticket, for several months. Gov. David A. Paterson, a fellow Democrat, withdrew from the race in February. “I’m Andrew Cuomo, and I’ve always worked for you,” Mr. Cuomo said in his one-minute-47-second video. “Over my career, I’ve worked to help the homeless, students, consumers and the taxpayers who are outraged by Wall Street bonuses. I’ve worked for you, but now I need your help.”

Mr. Cuomo also released a longer 21-minute video in which he described his policy positions on a range of issues, from same-sex marriage, which he supports, to a plan to have the state borrow money for its short term fiscal needs, which he opposes.

He planned a formal announcement in downtown Manhattan later on Saturday.The video echoes an approach taken by Hillary Rodham Clinton, when she launched her 2008 presidential campaign. Mr. Cuomo’s top communications strategist, Phil Singer, is a veteran of Mrs. Clinton’s campaign.