In a fundraising letter on behalf of Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino, Mitt Romney slams incumbent Democrat as a "typical corrupt New York politician,"
reports The Wall Street Journal.
"The difference between Andrew Cuomo and Rob Astorino is astounding," Mr. Romney writes in the letter that is being sent out by the Westchester County executive's campaign today.
Romney's charge of corruption relates to Cuomo's involvement in shuttering the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption, and the ensuing independent
federal investigation led by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara that is examining whether the Democratic governor improperly interfered with the commission.
Campaign spokesman William O'Reilly
told the New York Post that Romney might appear in a campaign event before the Election.
With less than a month left before the election, Astorino will need the money if his campaign has any chance to chip away at the double-digit lead Cuomo
holds in the latest Quinnipiac University Poll.
The survey released Oct. 8 shows Cuomo with a 51-31 percent lead over Astorino among likely voters. The liberal Green Party candidate claims 9 percent of the vote and 8 percent said they were undecided.
"It ain't over til it's over, but more than two-thirds of voters say their minds are made up," Quinnipiac University pollster Maurice Carroll said in a release.
Romney is the latest potential 2016 presidential candidate to come to Astorino's aid. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also wrote fundraising pleas,
reports The Democrat and Chronicle.
Perry and Bush's support is in stark contrast to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has refused to campaign for Astorino despite being the head of the Republican Governors Association (RGA).
Christie's lack of support has not been lost on Perry, who has criticized the New Jersey governor for his inaction as RGA head,
reports the New York Daily News.
"I have twice been the head of the Republican Governors Association. I tried to help as many governors as I could across the country. I'm going to come help conservative individuals who believe in freedom. Everybody gets to make their own decisions, and my decision was to help Rob," Perry said.
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