New York Republicans may have come up with a candidate to go up against Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo next year.
Conservative State Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin — who famously likened Cuomo to Hitler, Mussolini, and Vladimir Putin for his tactics in pushing the SAFE (gun control) act through the legislature — told reporters last week he's ready to run against the governor.
Recalling how New Yorkers finally grew tired of Gov. Mario Cuomo, after 12 years, the 49-year-old lawmaker, a former commercial pilot who now works as a part-time salesman for a solar energy firm, said voters may be tiring of his son Andrew after four.
McLaughlin, who hails from rural upstate Rensselaer County, has since apologized for likening Cuomo to despots. However, he called the governor a "bully" for his SAFE measure and his strong push for licensed casinos in the Empire State, He said many Democrats in the legislature agree with him.
Cuomo so far has collected $22 million for his campaign kitty, a figure that Republicans privately admit will be almost impossible to match.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.
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