Cuomo warns Democrats that beating Trump ‘easier said than done’

Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned Democrats Wednesday that President Trump won’t be easy to defeat, pointing to his rising public approval ratings post-impeachment.

He said defeating Trump is “easier said than done.”

“Don’t take it for granted. His numbers are up post-impeachment,” Cuomo said on WAMC radio

Cuomo still thinks a fellow Democrat will prevail, but it would take a “smart campaign” to topple the Republican incumbent.

He said the congressional Democrats’ impeachment proceedings did not hurt Trump politically. The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump of both articles of impeachment approved by the Democrat-run House of Representatives.

“I don’t think the impeachment process proved to be a lasting negative. I don’t think the impeachment process moved people one way or the other,” said Cuomo.

Meanwhile, the governor said he had a “very fine relationship” with Mike Bloomberg when he was New York City mayor and noted that his rising presidential campaign shows that “money is still very important” in political campaigns.

Cuomo has a close relationship with former Vice President Joe Biden, whose presidential campaign has floundered in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

“Joe Biden is not doing well. Michael Bloomberg, who I also know and have worked with, he has spent a fortune,” Cuomo said.

“Money, still very important in this, as we just learned again. We’re all talking about social media and Twitter. “

“’I have $400 million to buy a lot of TV ads. I’m doing very well,’” he said of Bloomberg.

Cuomo interacted regularly with Bloomberg while the presidential candidate was at City Hall. They served together during Cuomo’s first three years as governor and Bloomberg’s final three as mayor.

Cuomo said the race is still unsettled. Early on he talked up Biden, but stopped short of an endorsement amid the veep’s struggles.

“Too many variables at this point … Nevada will give us another data, South Carolina is a very important data point,” he said.

Asked if Bloomberg’s verbal blunders on topics such as redlining were too much of a millstone to win the nomination, Cuomo said, “Who knows? It’s so unpredictable. It’s so early. I would not wager on it.”

“Keep your eye on the prize. You have to beat Donald Trump. That’s all that matters,” he said.