Cuomo Paladino The The & lazior levy Att a Campaign Campaign C e for Governor e for orney General orney S Wednesday, Chneiderman r oundtable 2010 d Brod 2010 ecember 1, Sky Coffey dinallo riCe donovan THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL: CAMPAIGN ROUNDTABLE 2010 was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Dyson Foundation Milano also wishes to thank the following for their help in planning and coordinating this event: Alec Hamilton, Thomas Jacobs, Carin Mirowitz, Mira Oreck, Anna Schneider and Andrew White of the Center for New York City Affairs; Janine Cibellis and Louis Dorff of Milano; and Tracy Jackson and Fred Hochberg formerly of Milano. Copyediting by Lucia della Paolera. This publication is available on the web at: www.newschool.edu/milano/docs/Campaign_Roundtable_2010.pdf For further information or to obtain copies of this report, please contact: Center for New York City Affairs Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy 72 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011 212.229.5418, fax 212.229.5335 [email protected] www.centernyc.org Edited Transcript All roundtable photos by Mike DiVito. The Race for governor and attorney general: 2010 Campaign Roundtable Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Edited by Carin Mirowitz The Center for New York City Affairs is dedicated to advancing innovative public policies that strengthen neighborhoods, support families and reduce urban poverty. Our tools include rigorous analysis; skillful journalistic research; candid public dialogue with stakeholders, and strategic planning with government officials, nonprofit practitioners and community residents. Andrew White, Director www.centernyc.org The Race for Governor and Attorney General: Campaign Roundtable 2010 Table of ContentS Letter from the Deans .......................................................................iv Roundtable Program..........................................................................v Edited TranScript, SeSSion I: The Race for Attorney General Who’s Who................................................................................ 1 Campaign Timeline . 2 The Primary The Starting Gates .......................................................................... 3 Courting Cuomo ........................................................................... 8 Deep Pockets ............................................................................. 12 Inside Baseball ............................................................................ 12 The General The Top of the Ticket ........................................................................19 A Run without a Primary .................................................................... 20 The Bloomberg Factor........................................................................21 Insiders and Outsiders ...................................................................... 22 Running on Empty......................................................................... 22 Aqueduct ................................................................................ 23 The Progressive Lane.........................................................................25 The Endorsement ...........................................................................25 Unexpected Twists ......................................................................... 28 Edited TranScript, SeSSion II: The Race for Governor Who’s Who............................................................................... 29 Campaign Timeline . 30 The Primary Cuomo’s Non-Primary ...................................................................... 29 Early in the Primary .........................................................................32 Levy Switches Parties ....................................................................... 34 Paladino Enters............................................................................ 36 Paladino’s Controversies ..................................................................... 38 Paladino’s Path to Victory.....................................................................39 The Mosque ...............................................................................41 The General Demographic Interlude...................................................................... 42 The Republican Nominee .................................................................... 44 Anger ....................................................................................47 The Polls ................................................................................. 48 National Context ...........................................................................51 The Tea Party ..............................................................................52 The Debate ................................................................................53 Candidate as Campaign Manager? ..............................................................53 Albany Dysfunction ........................................................................ 54 Participant Biographies...................................................................... 56 iii From the DeanS An education in international affairs, public policy, and management is an education in decision making. Here at The New School, we teach our students to apply sound decision-making skills to complex issues, to understand situations with many moving parts, to see the broader picture, and to always keep an eye toward the future. A political campaign is a chance to see these skills in motion and deepen our insights into the interplay of politics and society. In any campaign, decisions must be made quickly, under tremendous pressure, and in a rapidly shifting context, with each decision carrying the potential of significant consequences for the candidates and the political conversation. In The New School’s campaign roundtables, organized by The Center for New York City Affairs, we explore in detail the decisions, large and small, that shape campaigns, and we come to understand the policies and exigencies that drive these decisions. We delve into the issues and hear the voices that dominate the debate, and the cultural hopes and fears that propel public response. It is a chance to understand in full the political context that will shape the government for the coming years. In this way, we increase our understanding not only of New York City politics, but of our city itself, and by extension, urban life on a global scale. In our roundtables, the campaign participants tell their stories. It is an opportunity to clear the air, to listen to each other, and to learn. It is rare in campaigns to have such a candid look within the inner operations, and it is instructive to see the dynamics at play. The complex interrelatedness of politics and policy and personality is a critical component to understanding power and leadership. New School students include current and future leaders, nonprofit leaders, labor and community activists, legislative staffers, and private-sector executives. Campaign roundtables offer our students a window into the workings of these campaigns, so that they may develop their skills in navigating campaigns as they advocate for a better world. —Neil R. Grabois Dean, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy and the Graduate Program in International Affairs —David Scobey Executive Dean, The New School for General Studies, and Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy iv Program 8:00–8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast 8:30–8:45 a.m. Welcome remarks Neil Grabois Fred Hochberg Andrew White 8:45 –10:15 a.m. Roundtable I: The Race for Attorney General 10:15–10:30 a.m. Break 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Roundtable II: The Race for Governor Roundtable ParticipantS Moderator David Chalian, PBS NewsHour Ben Smith, POLITICO Campaign RepreSentativeS Richard Brodsky for Attorney General Jon Lipshutz Sean Coffey for New York Attorney General 2010 Eduardo Castell Bruce Gyory Tammy Sun Dinallo for Attorney General Josh Brumberger John Kenny Andrew Cuomo 2010 Phil Singer Dan Donovan 2010 - New York Attorney General Virginia Lam Marcus Reese Bradley Tusk Kathleen Rice 2010 Eric Phillips Lazio 2010 Kevin Fullington Barney Keller Levy for NY Michael Dawidziak Paladino for the People Michael Caputo John Haggerty Schneiderman for Attorney General Emily Arsenault Mike Rabinowitz Blake Zeff v ROUNDTABLE I: THE RACE FOR Attorney General Hochberg, my predecessor as Dean of the Milano WHO’S WHO School, somebody about whom I’ve heard a great deal and somebody whose shoes I find it very difficult to Moderators fill. It was Fred’s vision and Fred’s idea to establish this David Chalian election roundtable series when he was Dean of the Ben Smith school. And he’s continued to serve as our convener, despite Campaign Representatives the fact that he now has to journey all the way from Richard Brodsky for Attorney General Washington—I’m sure he’s delighted to get out of Jon Lipshutz Washington to come back to wonderful New York, so we’re really pleased to have Fred with us. And would Sean Coffey for New York Attorney General 2010 you please join me in thanking the Dyson Foundation, Eduardo Castell Susan and Fred, and all of The New School’s generous Bruce Gyory donors and volunteers. Tammy Sun [Applause] Dinallo for Attorney General Josh Brumberger The Center for New York City Affairs at Milano John Kenny organized this event as part of its larger mission Dan Donovan 2010 - New York Attorney General and one of