Margin game: Cuomo machine moves to smother Teachout

[hrmjustin]

Jimmy Vielkind

ALBANY—With surrogate rallies, a new television ad and an agressive rollout of endorsements from labor and women's groups, Governor Andrew Cuomo almost looks like he's participating in a competitive campaign.

And he is, in a sense: The flurry of activity by Cuomo's political apparatus in the week following Labor Day is designed to smother his opponent, Zephyr Teachout, and maximize his margin of victory in the primary.

Voters are paying scant attention to politics during the summer—after weeks of events, an August poll showed Teachout's name recognition at 12 percent—and the Cuomo campaign is trying to drown out what would be her best chance to grab people's attention since she got into the race (and fended off Cuomo's attempts to kick her off the ballot).

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/09/8551943/margin-game-cuomo-machine-moves-smother-teachout?top-featured-3

[KurtNYC]

1. Cuomo believes that Teachout has a shot

More ads from Cuomo will help convince others that Teachout is competitive.

Lots of signs for Teachout in the Hudson Valley.

[hrmjustin]

2. I think Teachout can win the Nyc vote.

[KurtNYC]

3. yes - maybe here too

the turnout on mid-term primaries is VERY low (< 18%). Only the truly disgruntled show up. Cuomo will have to spend on GOTV to get his people to the polls.

[hrmjustin]

4. How is the Congressional district going?

[KurtNYC]

5. Hard to tell. Lots of suburban yard signs for Gibbons but the more rural parts here lean red anyway

I don't watch local TV so haven't seen more than yard signs for Gibbons vs Eldridge to gauge it. Sometimes with TV you can tell who is in trouble and therefore spending more or going into desperate attack mode.

[hrmjustin]

6. You are pretty high up in the hudson valley.

[hrmjustin]

7. Nyt editorial on Cuomo not debating

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/05/opinion/gov-cuomos-disservice-to-democracy.html?_r=2&assetType=opinion