Where in the world is former US Rep. Kathy Hochul?
The one-time Buffalo-area congresswoman known for her strong support of gun ownership rights and her fervid opposition to giving state privileges to illegal aliens has all but disappeared from public view since Gov. Cuomo picked her in May as his running mate for lieutenant governor.
Key state Democrats told The Post that Cuomo has ordered Hochul “kept under wraps,’’ in the words of one, to prevent her more conservative views from upending his re-election campaign among liberal New York City Democrats, especially Hispanics.
“No extended interviews, no press conferences, no TV or radio appearances, no nothing. It’s like she’s under lock and key,’’ said a senior elected Democrat.
Hochul, who received a top rating from the National Rifle Association when she ran for Congress and strongly opposed former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s efforts to grant driver’s licenses to illegal aliens when she was Erie County clerk, was chosen by Cuomo as part of his aggressive effort to win over Western New York voters.
But Hochul has granted virtually no in-depth interviews, has made only brief and superficial campaign appearances, and has been almost totally silent on her controversial past positions — including her declaration that she would have illegal aliens who sought driver’s licenses arrested.
“Try defending that position to Hispanics who support the state ‘Dream Act,’ ’’ said an elected New York City Democrat, referring to the Cuomo-backed legislation to spend $25 million on college assistance grants for illegals.
State GOP Chairman Ed Cox could barely contain his sarcasm when asked about Hochul’s invisibility.
“With all the contradictions between the two of them, I’m not surprised that Cuomo would want to make her disappear,’’ he said.
Leftist Fordham Law School Professor Zephyr Teachout, who mounted a strong but unsuccessful challenge to Cuomo for the Working Families Party nomination, isn’t the only possible challenger to Cuomo on the September primary ballot.
Comedian/activist Randy Credico, a one-time aide to radical lawyer William Kunstler, says he’s certain to quality for the primary.
Teachout’s petitions will be closely scrutinized by Cuomo’s campaign with an eye toward blocking a primary challenge.
If Cuomo is able to knock her off the ballot, he’ll likely try to do the same to Credico. But if Teachout’s petitions are good and she’s on the ballot, Cuomo is expected to leave Credico’s petitions unchallenged “in order to diffuse whatever vote is cast against him,’’ said a Democratic official.
Republican insiders are sounding gloomy about gubernatorial hopeful Rob Astorino’s upcoming financial-disclosure statement, due to be filed with the state Board of Elections by July 15.
Making little headway in the polls and struggling to appear as a credible challenger to Cuomo, Astorino, the Westchester County executive, began the year with a mere $1 million in the bank, dwarfed by Cuomo’s $33 million.
Six months later, “he’s going to be lucky to have just a few million more, if that,’’ said one GOP insider.
Added a source close to Astorino, “Many big donors are hesitant to give, due to direct and indirect threats from the Cuomo people.”