To most voters in the Empire State she IS an unknown….
She’s trying hard to change that…..
She HAS to be concerned about the state’s high profile Attorney General possible decision to run for her job….Other’s also….
But Tish James IS the BIG question mark…..
Barely a month after she unexpectedly ascended to the governor’s office after Andrew M. Cuomo’s resignation, Ms. Hochul is quietly revving up an aggressive fund-raising apparatus, seeking to build a formidable financial advantage — at least $10 million in donations by year’s end and as much as $25 million by next summer, donors and advisers say — to discourage or defeat potential rivals in what may be a fierce Democratic primary next year.
The governor’s political ramp-up, which has involved hiring a campaign manager and other senior aides, has not gone unnoticed. Several of her potential opponents have begun more assertively positioning themselves in recent days, with their allies acknowledging that the longer they wait, the stronger Ms. Hochul may be….
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But for donors, political consultants and some of the possible candidates, the biggest open question is whether Attorney General Letitia James will enter the contest.
Ms. James, who has deep ties across New York City and the potential to forge a diverse coalition, has sounded out party donors and elected officials about the race in recent weeks, leaving the impression that she is gauging possible support for a bid. Some of her allies have begun to sound increasingly confident about the likelihood of a run.
And in New York City on Wednesday, Ms. James addressed a room of powerful civic, business and political leaders. She vigorously defended her investigation into Mr. Cuomo, which led to his resignation; she described her career trajectory and her own vision for the state, and, to laughter and applause, dodged a question about her political future.
Ms. James has not historically had a reputation as a prolific fund-raiser. But people close to her argue that the nature of her potential candidacy — she could become America’s first Black female governor — would generate national interest, as Stacey Abrams’srun for governor of Georgia did in 2018….
image….Doug Mills/NY Times
The NY Governor race watchers will wait for Tish James’s decision….
..It’s the second time this week the powerful Democrat — who recently sank the gubernatorial term of disgraced, ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo with the release of her bombshell sexual harassment report — has raised the idea publicly that she could throw her hat in the ring and run for governor.
“I don’t know the answer. People have been coming up to me left and right, one way or the other. But that day is coming very, very soon when I need to make a decision,” she added, drawing whistles and a ‘yes!’ from the crowd.
“So just stay with me and pray with me…and stay tuned!” ….
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Early polling has NY Gov Hochul looking good against downstate Democrats….
I STILL think Tish James is someone the Gov should be worried about……
Gov. Kathy Hochul would handily win a hypothetical five-way Democratic gubernatorial primary that includes ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, state Attorney General Letitia James, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to a new poll.
Hochul would beat former three-term Gov. Cuomo, who resigned in August, 31 percent to 17 percent, according to the Siena College survey released Tuesday.
Despite Cuomo leaving Albany in disgrace under the threat of impeachment after a damning state AG probe found his alleged rampant sexual misconduct violated state and federal law, the scandal-scarred former governor is second in the polled field of contenders, ahead of three prominent Big Apple Democrats…
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