Cuomo Win Streak Rekindles Talk of His Replacing Biden

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s stellar legislative session is renewing speculation that President Barack Obama will dump Vice President Joe Biden and tap Cuomo as his running mate. The latest comes from former New York GOP Chairman Bill Powers, according to the New York Post.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Will the president call? (Getty Images Photo)

"Andrew had a fabulous session. It was fabulous. A property-tax cap, ethics reform and, for Democrats, gay marriage," the Post quotes Powers as saying. "I don't think there's any doubt Obama is going to pick him as his running mate. The president is in trouble, and [Vice President Joseph] Biden doesn't bring anything to his ticket.

"The president will call him up later this year and say, 'Andrew, you have to do this for the good of the country.' What's Andrew going to say, 'No?' "

Powers’ ringing endorsement echoes that of former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown in April, when the California Democrat suggested that Obama would slide Biden into Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s post.

Cuomo’s recent victory in making New York the sixth state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage unleashed a barrage of predictions that he’s a shoo-in for higher office, including former Republican NYC Mayor Guiliani’s prediction that he’d be a great presidential candidate.

Cuomo refuses to talk about such possibilities, and others doubt that he could replace Biden.

For example, “The Oval” blogger David Jackson demurred in USA Today, recalling that he also dissed Brown’s prediction two months ago: “We said then we wouldn't bet on it, and we won't bet on it now.

“For one thing, Obama is a big fan of Biden, and has given him high-profile assignments that range from budget negotiation to winding down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“For another thing, what would Cuomo bring to Obama's ticket? New York? If Obama can't carry the Empire State, he's got bigger problems than a running mate.”

Cuomo, who saw a flurry of predictions last week in the wake of the gay-marriage victory that he'll run for president in 2016, has refused repeatedly to discuss the possibility of higher office.

He wouldn't comment either on Powers' prediction, but a source familiar with his thinking half-jokingly said this when asked what action Cuomo would take if Obama called to offer him the nation's No. 2 position: "He won't answer."
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown earlier this year also predicted that Obama would pick Cuomo to replace Biden, who he claimed would be named by the president to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"He's a big name, a big-state governor, and a Democrat who is taking on the issue of public-employee salaries and pensions. Plus, he looks good," Brown said of Cuomo.
Cuomo wouldn't have to resign as governor to run for vice president, although many voters would likely react negatively since he could be leaving office just two years into his four-year term.