Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo may not be at the top of the headlines, but local political pundits say he still has a lot to deal with as investigations continue into misconduct.
"He may be off the front page, but it's premature to say he's off the hook," says GOP strategist Carl Calabrese. Calabrese notes there are still investigations into sexual misconduct and misreporting of nursing home deaths from COVID19.
Calabrese says while Cuomo maybe longing for a time where he's not on the front page, he can't relax just yet. "Who knows what these investigations could reveal? These have the potential of igniting another firestorm," says Calabrese, but notes the governor has the benefit of the doubt until the findings are released.
Ken Kruly of Politics and Other Stuff says Cuomo can focus on other things right now. "This gives him an opportunity to deal with other things, including COVID issues, which can distract him from the investigations," says Kruly, but notes this won't stop the investigations from proceeding. "We're in a state where the investigations are still going on, but it's a quiet phase. The work is moving along."
Kruly does not anticipate a lengthy investigation, but those involved are doing what they need to do to flush out the facts. "One day, the attorney general will issue her report and the FBI will issue its report," and the Assembly will go from there.
There's one other issue on Calabrese's mind: whether Cuomo will run for governor next year. "Even if he survives this, what does he do for his re-election? Does he run for a fourth time or does he exit the stage," ponders Calabrese. "If he survives, what does he do, does he try to replicate his father or does he pass on it?"
Calabrese says from a strategy standpoint he'd like to see a "wounded Cuomo" run against a Republican as opposed to a new name from the Democratic party.
