State Republicans plan to use Gov. Cuomo’s stunning claim that “extreme conservatives” — defined as pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and supporters of gun rights — have “no place in New York’’ to challenge Democrats across the state in the fall elections, GOP strategists told The Post.
Cuomo’s jaw-dropping declaration, which Republicans call a major game-changing blunder, has energized once-despondent GOP voters, insulted Roman Catholics, evangelical Protestants and Orthodox Jews, and has brought them into a de facto alliance with gun-rights activists already furious over Cuomo’s “Safe Act,’’ according to the strategists.
“This is definitely going to help our candidates for governor, for Congress, for the state Senate and for the Assembly,’’ said national GOP strategist John McLaughlin, who has helped run many New York campaigns.
“Does Chuck Schumer agree with Cuomo? Does Kirsten Gillibrand, Sheldon Silver, or upstate marginal Democratic congressmen? It’s going to be very interesting to see what the Democrats have to say about Cuomo.
“I’ve never before seen a governor anywhere in the country say to a large segment of his state’s population that they’re not wanted because of their ideology and their views,’’ McLaughlin continued.
Former state GOP Executive Director Brendan Quinn called Cuomo’s remark a “major mistake’’ that would mean his taken-for-granted re-election contest this year is no longer a certainty.
“The statement will drive a much bigger base turnout in November, and that’s going to help Republicans, including the candidates for governor and . . . Congress and the Legislature.
“To see such a major mistake from someone who prided himself on his discipline during his years as attorney general and governor is really amazing,’’ Quinn continued.
Republican insiders also say that Cuomo’s statement makes it more likely that Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will decide to seek his party’s nomination for governor.
An Astorino adviser compared Cuomo’s statement to presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s damaging “47 percent’’ remark about the large number of voters he said are dependent on government and, therefore, always vote Democratic.
As a result of Cuomo’s remark, Astorino has also won pledges of financial support from “across the country,’’ the adviser said.
Republicans had expected Cuomo to attempt to brand the pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and pro-gun rights Astorino as an “extreme conservative’’ if he entered the race for governor — but, because of his own remark, that’s now become “impossible,’’ the adviser said.
“It’s clear to everyone who the extremist is, and it’s not Rob. I mean, my God, saying that certain people don’t belong in New York, you can’t get much more extreme than that.”
While Cuomo’s harsh statement was backed by Mayor de Blasio, it was condemned by commentators across the nation and across the political spectrum.
One of the state’s best- known Democrats, who has known Cuomo since his father, Mario, was governor, in the 1980s, has told associates the current governor “is reverting’’ to form.
“Andrew always had a reputation for being overly aggressive and abusive, and that helped bring him down in the [gubernatorial] race of 2002,’’ said the Democrat.
“After that . . . he became a humbler person and people said he was a ‘new Andrew.’
“But with these comments, Andrew is reverting to form. He’s become his old arrogant self.’’