NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) -- Eric Adams will endorse Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor, a reversal for the incumbent mayor after he accused his former challenger of being a “snake and a liar” just weeks ago in the contentious battle for Gracie Mansion.
The endorsement, part of an effort to bolster Cuomo’s campaign against frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, comes less than two weeks before the November election. Adams and Cuomo were seen together court-side at the Knicks game Wednesday night following the final mayoral debate. The endorsement was reported earlier by the New York Times.
Adams told the Times that he would campaign with Cuomo in neighborhoods where the mayor most holds sway, saying he thinks “it is imperative to really wake up the Black and brown communities that have suffered from gentrification on how important this race is,” according to the Times.
It’s unclear how much Adams’ endorsement will help Cuomo, who is running as an independent and trails Mamdani by double digits. Adams had dropped out of the race at the end of September after his re-election bid failed to pick up momentum, and he consistently polled in last place.
His relationship with Cuomo deteriorated over the course of the campaign, with the mayor describing Cuomo as “a snake and a liar” and insinuating the former governor was responsible for collapsing the mayor’s ability to raise the cash by spreading rumors he was planning to leave the race.
Former Adams campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro didn’t return a message seeking comment. In response to questions about the men appearing together at the Knicks game Wednesday night, he said “the only endorsement Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams made that night was for the Knicks” adding that “when the mayor makes a mayoral campaign endorsement, he’ll announce it.”
Cuomo, 67, decided to run on an independent ticket after losing to Mamdani, 34, in the Democratic primary by more than 12 points. A Fox News poll released last week showed Mamdani with 49% of the vote among registered voters polled, while Cuomo won 28% and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa 13%. Polymarket, a betting website, showed Mamdani with a 93% chance of winning and Cuomo at 6%.
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