Cuomo emerges as Democratic counter to Trump virus response

Before President Donald Trump stepped into White House briefing room on Thursday to provide an update on coronavirus, an opening act was brocast across cable news of ar chief executive calmly reciting statistics and safety tips.

For second straight day, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's matter-of-fact and slightly scolding demear from an epicenter of pandemic was a stark contrast to often haphazard and hyperbolic messs coming from Trump.

“I tell my daughters: Make decisions based on risk versus reward,” Democrat said at his Thursday briefing. “For young people to go out in crowds on spring break is so unintelligent and reckless, I can't even begin to express it. Stay home. Stop spre. Save lives.”

Through daily briefings and scores of media appearances, Cuomo has emerged as one of key faces responding to pandemic. He is one of several goverrs thrust into spotlight as cases surge, forcing a reordering of American life without schools, sporting events or large crowds. decisions to cancel events and help overburdened hospitals have often fallen to goverrs, like Ohio’s Mike DeWine, a Republican, who postponed state’s primary this week, and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, who drew Trump’s ire for criticizing federal response.

But it has been Cuomo’s daily briefings that have become must-see TV. Twice this week, White House’s own coronavirus briefing was delayed until Cuomo concluded his own update, providing vital information to a public largely shut in at home, televisions anxiously tuned to cable news.

His appearances drew praise from some unlikely sources.

“I continue to be impressed with briefings given by @realDonaldTrump and his world-class experts,” tweeted Rudy Giuliani, president’s personal attorney. “Similarly, my Goverr, Andrew Cuomo who is keeping us well informed.”

Meanwhile, an unexpected online fan club has popped up, full of oring Twitter posts during goverr’s briefings and one Jezebel article Thursday titled “Help, I Think I'm In Love With Andrew Cuomo???”

It’s a remarkable show of affection for a goverr who has long been more respected than loved, one who is in his third term in an overwhelmingly Democratic state yet has never been embraced by party’s liberal base, who at times have grown frustrated with his centrist approach. He has twice toyed with running for president but never launched a campaign.

Still, his very public tactics have positioned him as Democratic counter to Trump even as party begins to coalesce around Joe Biden's presidential campaign. Biden, who has a nearly insurmountable delegate le in Democratic contest, has largely kept a low profile limited to short speeches, remarks and or events livestreamed to supporters who are being vised to stay home for foreseeable future.

As Cuomo conducts briefings from state capital in Albany, he has vacillated between being Trump’s foil and his unlikely ally. two Queens natives have tred barbs on Twitter while also conferring in late-night phone calls placed from White House residence.

"Just h a very good tele-conference with Nation's Goverrs. Went very well. Cuomo of New York has to ‘do more,’'' Trump tweeted Monday.

A short time later, Cuomo responded: "I have to do more? -- YOU have to do something! You're supposed to be President."

But two men spoke several times next few days and Cuomo me a point, in national television interviews, of expressing his appreciation for Trump’s responsiveness even as he urged federal government to do more.

“ best news is, I think federal government has w really gotten this and y're engd,” Cuomo said Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “I said to president, you step up, you help my state, you help my people, you help this country, and I will put my hand out in partnership 100% because politics be darned right w, right?”

president, hours later from White House briefing room, ted comment, saying, “Andrew Cuomo is being very, very generous, saying such nice things about us.”

Cuomo has steered his state through crisis before, including devastation wrought by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. He has long been drawn to proposing sweeping government projects and taking a hands-on approach to emergency responses. He worked for his far, three-term Gov. Mario Cuomo, and oversaw response to numerous disasters as secretary of housing and urban development for President Bill Clinton.

He long has feuded with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a fellow Democrat who once worked for Cuomo at HUD. Ruthless when wielding political power, Cuomo has at times appeared to quash de Blasio's policy proposals out of sport, and two men have continued ir rivalry during coronavirus crisis.

Cuomo upstd and undermined de Blasio by ordering city's schools to close mere minutes before mayor was set to make anuncement, and, this week, goverr took pains to rebut mayor's plan for nation's largest city to shelter in place during worst of outbreak.

Cuomo's performance this week, to some, echoed how ar polarizing New York politician commanded national st when commander-in-chief was missing in action.

Giuliani, n mayor of New York City, was face of American grief and resolve on Sept. 11, 2001, when President George W. Bush was being scrambled to safety on Air Force One in hours after terror attacks. Cuomo’s leership this week has been reminiscent of Giuliani in that moment of American worry, according to George Arzt, a New York Democratic consultant who was Mayor Ed Koch’s press secretary and has worked with both Cuomo and Trump.

“People are yearning for leership, and y are t getting it from Oval Office,” said Arzt. “Andrew really does well in a crisis. And here he is, someone taking le and showing on state level what needs to be done nationally.”