Why mario cuomo didnt run

If only Cuomo had run for president in ! Or , for that matter. Given his name recognition, outstanding rhetorical skills and stature as a big-state governor, he would have almost certainly secured the Democratic nomination and defeated the incumbent president George H.

As I was reminded today in listening to clips of Cuomo from his frequent appearances with Alan Chartock on the Albany-based public radio station WAMC, the Governor was an engaging, erudite albeit often prickly individual who never lost touch with his working class ethnic roots. When, in December , on the cusp of the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary, Cuomo announced his decision not to seek the presidency, he cited his obligations as Governor of New York, noting in particular the need to negotiate a solution with statehouse Republicans to a burgeoning budget deficit.

The plain fact is that despite his many strong qualities, Cuomo was a northeast, big government New Deal liberal governing — and contemplating a presidential run — in the age of Reagan. It was never very clear how well this brand of liberalism would play on the national stage at that time. The two previous presidential elections saw a liberal Senator Walter Mondale and a liberal Governor at least on social issues Michael Dukakis beaten by Republicans Reagan and Bush, respectively. What if Cuomo had run?

Would he have dominated the Democratic field and dethroned a weakened Bush? Or maybe that chronic indecision would have translated into a dysfunctional candidacy that would have wilted under a level of scrutiny Cuomo had never before faced? The theory I ultimately gravitate toward is that Mario Cuomo was attracted to the nobility of a lost cause.

In , he ran for mayor stoically voicing opposition to capital punishment even as the Son of Sam terrorized New York City. This is a man who could have looked at all those Democrats running away from George H. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Share this —. Follow msnbc. More Brands. By Steve Kornacki. Cuomo leaves behind a mystery for the ages Jan. The quick answer would seem to be no. Ginsburg has been a reliably liberal vote, and Cuomo's similar support for abortion rights and opposition to the death penalty were well known.

That says little, however, about how Cuomo would have voted on countless other issues that have come before the Supreme Court in the last two decades, including terrorism, the limits of executive power, and federalism. It's also possible that Cuomo and Ginsburg would have served together, since Clinton could have nominated Ginsburg instead of Stephen Breyer as his second appointment a year later.

The ripple effects of Cuomo's decision extend to the Obama administration. With his health having failed only in the last several months, it's reasonable to surmise Cuomo would have stayed on the bench into Barack Obama's presidency, giving him an opportunity to make a third nomination to the Supreme Court. While she has had her own recent health scares, Ginsburg has given no indication she plans to retire anytime soon, nor has Breyer.

Cuomo, meanwhile, would go on to lose his bid for a fourth gubernatorial term in New York in and recede from the spotlight. Yet he proved, through both his eloquence and his reticence, that you don't need to hold national office to make a national impact. Skip to content Site Navigation The Atlantic. Popular Latest.