Clinton Would Crush Cuomo In 2016: NYDN Poll

BY CELESTE KATZ

ICYMI: New Yorkers love Gov. Cuomo — but they love Hillary Clinton WAY more.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo would lose to Hillary Clinton in a presidential race, a Daily News poll found.

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ALBANY — New Yorkers love Gov. Cuomo — but they love Hillary Clinton WAY more.

If the two were to face off in the 2016 presidential primary in New York, Andy would get crushed.

The former First Lady, senator, 2008 presidential hopeful and current secretary of state thumped Cuomo 60% to 25% — with 15% on the fence — in a poll commissioned by the Daily News.

Democrats have been abuzz in recent weeks over the prospects of the party heavyweights going head-to-head for the presidency in four years — and Clinton clearly still has her political mojo.

“It’s not a reflection on Andrew, it’s a reflection of her overwhelming popularity,” said pollster Doug Schoen, who questioned nearly 400 city Dems.

Clinton smashed President Obama by 17 points in the 2008 New York primary, which is largely decided by city Democrats.

Schoen, who worked for Clinton’s 2000 Senate race as well as Bill Clinton, said Cuomo remains “very, very popular.”

“But she’s represented New York for two terms in the U.S. Senate, has been a presidential candidate, is the secretary of state and her husband was President of the United States,” Schoen said.

“I think that explains everything you need to know.”

Even as she insists she won’t seek elected office again, Bill Clinton has said he’d be happy if she would run for President in four years. Hillary Clinton even managed a joke about the speculation last week.

Cuomo, meanwhile, is trying his best to tamp down the talk, repeating a strategy he employed as attorney general: He simply says he’s focused just on his current job.

New York’s top Democrats don’t want to get anywhere near the crossfire.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver last week praised Clinton as a great talent, friend and political leader.

But he quickly added: “I think there are a number of great Democrats who are potential leaders, not the least of which is Gov. Cuomo.”

Clinton says she’s in her last year as Obama’s top diplomat.

At least one top New York Democrat believes that after taking some time off, she’ll seek the nomination in 2016.

And she gave a few hints during a talk in Syracuse last week, wading into domestic political issues like tax cuts and deficit reductions — usually no-nos for the boss of the State Department.

While Clinton has been raising eyebrows, Cuomo has been hustling to douse talk of an Oval Office run.

“I’m not going to start to speculate in my own politics,” he said recently.

Doing so can prove distracting and frustrating, Cuomo said.

“Once you start to get political. . . . Once you start to focus on the jersey and what team you’re on, collegiality goes out the window. Nonpartisan goes out the window.

“Once you start saying let’s talk political, my own politics, my own aspirations, it can become not just distracting in that it takes time, but it can become confusing and frustrating and ‘is this now a political agenda or a governmental agenda?’”

Cuomo’s successful 16 months in office — his approval rating hovers around 70% — have catapulted him into the national spotlight, even though he’s turned down almost every national interview request.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hillary-clinton-crush-gov-andrew-cuomo-a-presidential-race-article-1.1071568#ixzz1trCLWTjh