How Cuomo campaigned in Israel
Laura Nahmias
JERUSALEM—Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 28-hour trip to Israel this week, his first time out of the country since his inauguration in January 2011, was more than just the routine campaign stop required of New York politicians seeking to shore up support among Jewish voters.
The “unity tour,” which came as Cuomo faces a federal investigation back in New York and as Israel weathers international opprobrium for its recent offensive in Gaza, carried significant political benefits for all involved.
For Cuomo, the tour meant a clean break from a negative series of news cycles at home, among other things. For the Israeli government, it was a chance to highlight unequivocal support from the leader of the state with the largest Jewish population inside the U.S., according Cuomo's visit a presidential level of pomp even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's relationship with the White House continues to deteriorate.
On the very short, highly scripted trip, government officials, Israelis and tourists who approached Cuomo expressed deep gratitude for his visit. And he was happy to receive it, noting several times throughout the trip how “warmly appreciative” Israeli officials were and declaring, finally, that the trip had been a “fantastic success.”
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/08/8550862/how-cuomo-campaigned-israel