Gov. Cuomo has thrown himself into the effort to stop the election of Eliot Spitzer as city comptroller, calling key Democrats last week with specific suggestions to boost Scott Stringer’s uphill struggle against him, The Post has learned.
Cuomo, who has claimed to be “neutral’’ in the comptroller’s race, also hinted for the first time through a spokesman yesterday that he would soon go public with his support for Stringer.
A top aide to Cuomo, when told The Post had sources confirming the governor’s direct involvement, initially claimed that the governor is “neutral’’ in the Sept. 10 primary contest.
But then the aide unexpectedly added two caveats, saying Cuomo’s supposed neutrality was “at this time’’ and then noting, “Things may change.’’
“The governor is in it and so is [top Cuomo aide Joseph] Percoco, they’re making calls on Scott’s behalf and telling people they want to see Spitzer defeated,’’ a prominent state Democrat told The Post.
Added another Cuomo administration insider, “The governor has taken a direct and aggressive interest in doing what he can to prevent Spitzer from being elected, which would be a disaster.’’
Cuomo’s personal involvement in the anti-Spitzer effort came as one of the state’s leading Democrats claimed that Manhattan Borough President Stringer, lagging in all the polls and a disappointing campaigner, had begun to “turn the corner’’ in his battle with the disgraced ex-governor.
“I think Scott has pulled it out,’’ said Assemblyman Keith Wright, co-chairman of the state Democratic Committee and the Manhattan Democratic chairman.
“This is reminiscent of the Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate [two disgraced and defeated ex-pols] campaigns, when you have the whole city seeming to be lining up against them, in this case with Scott Stringer.
“Scott’s infrastructure has become extremely sound, whether it’s labor, or business or the editorial pages. I think the ground game will bring Scott over the finish line,’’ continued Wright, who is leading an effort to win black-voter support for Stringer.
Cuomo fears Spitzer would damage the state’s most important revenue-producing industry, Wall Street, in an effort to rebuild his political career.