Charlotte Bennett Says Yes
Congressman Tom Suozzi said yes, he would accept an endorsement from Cuomo, who resigned last year after being accused by 11 women of sexual harassment. “Yes, I would accept his endorsement. I think that he’s still very popular among a lot of people in New York State and while he has a lot of baggage, along with what he’s done, he’s accomplished a great deal in the state of New York,” said Suozzi.
One of Cuomo’s accusers, Westchester native Charlotte Bennett, criticized Suozzi’s answer, Tweeting, “@TomSuozzi has a lot to say about crime and public safety, but don’t worry! He’s totally fine accepting an endorsement from a seriel sexual harasser and disgraced former Governor Cuomo, a man responsible for the death and coverup of thousands of senior NYers.”
Suozzi, who was recently endorsed by the NY Post, is behind by more than 20 points in recent polling to Hochul, so his decision to accept a Cuomo endorsement that will never come is a gamble. But as one Westchester democrat told me, “what does Suozzi have to lose? He knows that Cuomo is still polling at 30% among NY democrats, so he’s hoping that some of those Cuomo folks come out and vote for him. But a lot of those Cuomo folks are already with Suozzi.”
Bennett remains one of former Governor Cuomo’s biggest critics, posting earlier this year that Cuomo “spends his time and money seeking press coverage through retaliatary power points. and misleading TV ads. He paints himself as the victim of political conspiracy, all while revictimizing those he harmed. A narcissist in true form. He is out only for himself.”
The other side in accepting a pseudo endorsement of Cuomo is the attacks that will come from women and democrats, who believe Cuomo’s accusers like Bennett. “Suozzi gains nothing from this stunt,” said one elected Westchester democrat. “This will make female democrats on Long Island think twice about voting for him in the primary. He might lose voters over this.”
