© 2024 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cuomo campaigns in Syracuse ahead of Thursday primary, but doesn't mention opponent

Ellen Abbott
/
WRVO News
Gov. Cuomo speaks at a campaign rally in Syracuse Monday

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is running in a primary Thursday against Democratic challenger Cynthia Nixon. But during campaign stops in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo Monday, Cuomo focused on President Trump, and didn't mention Nixon once.

In Syracuse, Cuomo railed against  the Trump Administration’s stand on immigration, abortion, and sexual harassment, before encouraging the mostly union crowd to vote on Thursday.

"I need you to come to the polls on Thursday, September 13th, get out the vote, stand with me against this president," Cuomo said. "Let’s stand in unity, let's fight back, lets show him his nonsense doesn’t sell here."

Cuomo did not take questions from reporters in Syracuse, but while in Rochester, he did respond to the controversy surrounding recent mailers sent out by the Democratic Party, that alluded to his opponent Cynthia Nixon as being weak on anti-Semitism.

Cuomo said he knew nothing about the mailers.

"The Democratic Party has to change their approval process. It was wrong, it was inappropriate, and they are offering the Nixon campaign a mailer if they want it," he said.

Cuomo has a commanding lead in the latest poll against Nixon, an actress and education advocate. The latest Siena College poll puts him 41 points ahead of Nixon, with substantial leads among every age group and region in the state. Nixon said the race is much closer than the polls indicate, adding that Cuomo wouldn't be spending so much money against her if the race wasn't close.

WXXI contributed to this report

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.