RYE BROOK — Andrew M. Cuomo became the Democratic nominee for governor Thursday,

putting himself into a race at a time of voter impatience over gridlock and corruption at the

State Capitol.

Seeking to portray himself as an Albany outsider, Cuomo addressed convention delegates for

24 minutes, criticizing the wayward direction of state government and pledging to "restore the

public trust in government."

---

• Donn Esmonde's column: Enter Cuomo, but it’s tough to be hopeful

---

Republicans, though, quickly dismissed Cuomo, the state's attorney general, as being too

cozy with special interests in Albany and merely the latest in a long line of liberal

Democrats from New York City trying to become governor.

While Gov. David A. Paterson and legislative leaders were back in Albany dealing with fiscal

matters, Cuomo attacked them at the convention here, calling the government they run broken

and deaf to the needs of residents.

"New York State is in crisis, and it's time this Democratic Party stood up and made this

state the Empire State again," Cuomo told the delegates.

He touched on his various proposals, some already proposed by Republicans, such as a cap on

property taxes, an independent commission to redraw legislative and congressional boundary

lines next year and a constitutional convention.

In his speech, the 52-year-old Cuomo sought to sound like a fiscal conservative and social

liberal. He twice invoked the name of his father, former three-term Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, and

the likes of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Bill Clinton. The elder Cuomo was in the audience, as

was celebrity cooking show host Sandra Lee, the attorney general's girlfriend.

Short on details, Cuomo gave shout-outs to several of his policy positions. For instance, he

insisted he will get a law on same-sex marriage passed and expressed opposition to raising

state taxes "at this time." He said he hopes to make New York "the progressive capital of the

nation."



State GOP Chairman Edward F. Cox noted Cuomo's "at this time" comment on tax increases.

"Those are the key words: "at this time,' " he said.

Cox said he believes that the Democrats are not as united as party leaders would indicate.

"He's talking like a Republican," Cox said of Cuomo, "but they're not going to worry about

it too much because they know in the end he's going to act like a Democrat."



Mostly, though, Cuomo has failed in his promises to be the "Sheriff of State Street" in

Albany, Cox said.

"The gridlock in Albany is the gridlock of his own party," Cox said. "The Republicans

aren't involved in that at all. The Democrats control everything in Albany."



Cuomo warned of a population that is fearful, which can move some to anger, and that there

are "forces" that try to "exploit" that anger. He talked of "activist groups" organizing in

the state seeking to "turn us one against the other." He did not specifically name any groups.

In a 12-minute speech that introduced him to statewide politics, Cuomo's new running mate,

Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy, touched lightly on his record as mayor but was long on praise

for Cuomo. Holding up a booklet that Cuomo's campaign released with some of his ideas for

government, Duffy said Cuomo will "lead a change ... that we have yet to see in our careers."



Duffy, who has been in office for 4 years as mayor after a stint as police chief in

Rochester, pushed what he called a "different approach to government" that will include a cap

on state spending and taxes.

Put on the ticket for geographic balance, Duffy did a bow to the upstate economy.

"We especially need to address the long-standing issues facing upstate," he said.

Cuomo's proposals include a $3,000-per-worker corporate tax credit for each unemployed New

York resident hired, Duffy said.

An hour or so later, reporters got a taste of how highly controlled the Cuomo campaign is

run. Duffy, with a small group of reporters, was noting that Cuomo envisions him having an

important role as lieutenant governor.

"I would not be one ... picked for ceremonial positions," Duffy said.

With that, Cuomo handlers grabbed the arm and jacket of Duffy, who stands 6-feet-5, and

dragged him behind a nearby door. News conference over.

For symbolism, Cuomo's name was put into nomination by a Latina legislator from Suffolk

County, a black former New York City comptroller and Erie County Clerk Kathleen C. Hochul.

But questions still remained for the all-white, all-male statewide ticket that emerged from

the Westchester County convention hotel here with Cuomo at the top.

"As Democrats, diversity is something we strive for," Cuomo said in a brief appearance

later with reporters. He pledged that his administration would be the "most diverse in

history."



He did not elaborate.

Though delegates left trying to show outward unity, it was clear that the party faces

problems not far beneath the surface. In addition to the governor's absence, few Democratic

state lawmakers showed up for Cuomo's speech. The others all said they had to stay in Albany

to deal with fiscal matters.

But with Cuomo regularly trying to tag the Democratic-run Legislature as a major part of

Albany's problems, Democrats don't deny that party division is an issue.

"I'm going to work very hard so we focus on the issues and not the people," said Jay S.

Jacobs, the party's chairman. He added that many lawmakers agree with Cuomo's positions.

"We stand together," Jacobs said. "Now we've just got to get everybody on the same course."



Charlie King, the party's executive director and a Cuomo confidant, said the "vast majority"

of Democratic lawmakers will want to be part of Cuomo's agenda. "This is easy for them," he

said of such lawmakers. "Those who don't, then they're opting out. So I don't think it's going

to cause a split from Andrew's perspective. Some people may opt out of being part of what

we're trying to accomplish."



Republicans hit the Democratic convention hotel bright and early Thursday in an effort to

diminish Cuomo, calling him asleep during some of Albany's corruption problems and, in the

words of Cox, a "tax-and-spend liberal."



Cox believes that GOP candidates — who emerge next week at its state convention in

Manhattan — will be able to tap into voter anger over Democratic policies in Washington

and Albany.

"This is our year. This is a Republican year," Cox said. "When I say Republican, this is

the year for the fiscal [conservative] candidates to win, and the Republicans are putting out

those candidates.

"The state is bankrupt. We need fiscal conservatives," Cox added, as he announced the start-

up of a Web site to track Cuomo during the campaign: PrinceAndrewWatch.com.