Cuomo Favored To Take The Attorney General Nomination
BY JOHN TOSCANO

It may take a major effort by Democratic organizations throughout the state to deliver their party's nomination for state attorney general to Andrew Cuomo, whose onetime huge lead over chief rival Mark Green has been whittled to a point where political pundits see the race as close.

It may take a major effort by Democratic organizations throughout the state to deliver their party's nomination for state attorney general to Andrew Cuomo, whose one-time huge lead over chief rival Mark Green has been whittled to point where political pundits see the race as close.

The other two candidates in this contest, Charles King and Sean Patrick Maloney, are considered out of the running.

Early on this year, Cuomo, the 48-year-old former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Clinton Presidential Administration, quietly lined up a huge bank of support among Democratic leaders around the state.

At the same time, he corralled a long list of endorsements from public officials and labor organizations and also outdistanced his foes in building up a campaign war chest.

Then last spring, at the Democratic Party convention in Buffalo, all the groundwork laid by the son of former Governor Mario Cuomo came together to overpower his opposition.

Cuomo's nomination was assured by a 60 percent vote at the convention, while Green, King and Maloney were unable to get a spot on the primary ballot.

But the trio bounced back, and successfully got on the ballot by circulating petitions around the state. All three took their pot shots at the frontrunner whenever the opportunity presented itself, none more than Green who brought the fight to Cuomo with a relentless attack directed mainly at his record as HUD secretary.

Green, 61, former New York City Public Advocate and Consumer Affairs Commissioner, in one particularly stinging charge, accused Cuomo and HUD of poisoning children. He leveled the allegation first at a candidates'debate and then at a press conference the following day.

According to Green, children had been poisoned by pesticides. Spitzer's office issued a highly critical report about the issue and later filed a suit against HUD after Cuomo had left the agency.

The Cuomo campaign vigorously denied the allegations.

Cuomo refused to participate in more than two debates, but continued to receive major endorsements, some from longtime Green supporters. He also fought back, citing his extensive administrative experience in the HUD position, where he supervised 12,000 staff employees and 350 attorneys. He also pledged to fight for campaign financing and redistricting reforms if elected.

Green made much of a New York Times endorsement, which, however, was carried only in editions distributed outside New York City. In his television ad ending the campaign, which also was carried only in some upstate locations, he billed himself as the "people's lawyer," citing his stint as city Consumer Affairs Commissioner from 1990 to 1993.

The question now becomes: does Green's gaining on Cuomo, as reflected in some polls, come too late? Also, will it be blunted by the primary day get-out-the-vote effort that is sure to come from Democratic organizations all over the state, aided and abetted by the huge labor unions that endorsed Cuomo?

The race for attorney general of New York figures to be the closest race of the day.