Andrew Cuomo blasted Mayor Adams on Friday for pushing ahead with a plan to do additional polling to help determine whether he should stay in the race for City Hall, contending the effort is redundant and only stands to benefit Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani.
In a surprise move, Adams’ campaign revealed earlier this week he plans to commission an independent poll that he will use the results of to decide if he’s going to continue his longshot bid for reelection or drop it. That disclosure came as sources said Adams continues to consider taking a job in President Trump’s administration or in the private sector in exchange for bowing out of the race.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting with clergy leaders in Brooklyn on Friday morning, Cuomo said Adams’ polling proposal doesn’t make any sense as recent public polls, including by major outfits Emerson and Siena, already show the incumbent does not appear to have a viable path to victory in November’s election.
“Another poll?” Cuomo scoffed to the Daily News when asked for his thoughts on Adams’ latest suggestion. “We don’t have a poll, is that what it is?”
“Every day he stays in the race he continues to be a spoiler and help Mamdani,” the ex-governor said.
Referencing surveys indicating he has a better shot at defeating Mamdani if Adams steps aside, Cuomo added that Adams “can continue to try to get a job in the Trump administration, maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t, that’s up to him, but he’s not a viable candidate and all he’s doing is help elect Mamdani.”
Adams’ campaign didn’t immediately return a request for a response.
Mamdani continues to poll as the clear favorite to win November’s mayoral election. But it’s widely believed Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual and professional misconduct accusations, would get a clearer opportunity at mounting a real challenge against Mamdani if Adams steps aside. One poll showed a tight contest in a two-man race.
Against that backdrop, Trump, who’s sharply critical of Mamdani’s democratic socialist agenda, has dispatched members of his team to try to privately convince Adams to suspend his reelection bid in exchange for a job in the president’s administration in order to maximize Cuomo’s chances, according to sources familiar with the matter.
So far, Adams hasn’t officially entertained such offers and maintains he will stay in the race. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, meantime, has also affirmed he will stay in the race no matter what.
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