A day before the primary, Governor Andrew Cuomo swept through Western New York late Monday afternoon to rally the troops and stress the importance to the region of having Kathy Hochul as lieutenant governor.
In a crowded IBEW Local 41 hall in Orchard Park, the governor brought in differing factions of the Democratic Party to persuade them to unify behind him and Hochul for the primary election. They are facing vocal opposition from gubernatorial challenger Zephyr Teachout and lieutenant governor candidate Tim Wu.
Cuomo told reporters this region has benefited from his first four-years.
"Albany was basically dysfunctional in the first place, so it wasn't accomplishing a lot. But it did not give Western New York and Erie County its due," Cuomo said. "We've changed that over the past four years.
"Having a lieutenant-governor from Erie is going to make a tremendous difference."
Cuomo reminded the heavily union audience about the construction jobs in the downtown building boom and the jobs coming to fill those buildings. He said that would bring back the children who have left for other jobs in other places.
The governor would like a big win Tuesday to launch his campaign against Republican candidate Rob Astorino.
