By Colin Campbell and Hunter Walker 2/20 5:05pm

Family Ties

Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie (Photo: Getty)

Andrew Cuomo on His Sicilian Similarities With Chris Christie

Governor Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie, his Republican counterpart in New Jersey, are willing to admit they have at least one thing in common: strong, Sicilian mothers. Mr. Christie pointed out this fact earlier this week while denying reports he privately discussed agreeing with Mr. Cuomo on a wide variety of issues. Today, Mr. Cuomo responded during a budget-related press conference where he playfully hinted at the unusually “powerful” influence Sicilian mothers have on their children.

“I understood that the governor said we both have Sicilian mothers, which is true,” Mr. Cuomo said when asked about Mr. Christie’s comments. “They can be a strong force on development–I don’t know on political philosophy–but on personal development, the Sicilian mother is a very powerful force.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/02 2:36pm

Fighting Words

(Photo: Getty)

Chris Christie Says Lack of Sandy Relief Shows ‘Why the American People Hate Congress’

Governor Chris Christie is angry.

In addition to a statement blasted out earlier today, New Jersey’s outspoken governor held a press conference this afternoon where he said Speaker John Boehner’s sudden decision to halt a vote on the Hurricane Sandy relief package exemplifies “why the American people hate Congress.”

“Thirty-one days for Andrew victims. Seventeen days for victims of Gustav and Ike. Ten days for victims of Katrina,” Mr. Christie said, ticking off how long it took for Congress to pass relief after other natural disasters. “For the victims of Sandy in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, there’s been sixty-six days and the wait continues. There’s only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims: the House Majority and their speaker, John Boehner….Last night, politics was placed before our oath to serve our citizens. For me, it was disappointing and disgusting to watch.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/02 11:57am

Piling On

Breezy Point, Queens after the storm, on October 30th. (Photo: Getty)

Cuomo, Christie Slam House Republicans for Stalled Sandy Relief

Unsurprisingly, the governors of the two states most ravaged by Hurricane Sandy, New Yorker’s Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey’s Chris Christie, are not pleased with the Republican leadership in House of Representatives after they decided to not take up relief legislation last night. To emphasize their displeasure, the two released a joint statement criticizing the chamber for the move.

“With all that New York and New Jersey and our millions of residents and small businesses have suffered and endured, this continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable,” they said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/18/12 3:00pm

Garden State

Cory Booker (Photo: YouTube)

Cory Booker Is Keeping His Options Open Online

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is now considering a 2014 run for the Senate seat currently occupied by 88-year-old Frank Lautenberg after mounting speculation he would challenge incumbent New Jersey Governor Chris Christie next year. On the internet, a close advisor to Mr. Booker has prepped for both a gubernatorial campaign and Senate bid. Records show Mr. Booker’s fundraising advisor and former City Hall staffer Bari Mattes has purchased the web domains for both “BookerForSenate” and BookerForGovernor.

Update (3:48 p.m.): Ms. Mattes has also registered “CoryBookerForPresident.com.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/05/12 11:04am

Futures

Hillary Clinton and Andrew Cuomo at the Columbus Day Parade in 2006. Photo: Getty)

New Yorkers Weigh in on Hillary and Cuomo’s Potential 2016 Bids

With both Hillary Clinton and Governor Andrew Cuomo considered potential 2016 presidential candidates, the latest poll from the Siena Research Institute contains several numbers that will be of interest to early watchers of their potential bids. Siena polled favorability ratings for both Ms. Clinton and Mr. Cuomo and asked New Yorkers whether they’d like to see either run for president four years from now.  Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/25/12 9:07am

fightin' words

(Photo: Getty)

Bill de Blasio: Bloomberg Is ‘No Chris Christie’

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, a likely mayoral candidate in 2013, can now be counted as a firm critic of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s handling of Hurricane Sandy.

“You remember the recent diplomatic phrase, ‘leading from behind,’” Mr. de Blasio mused on Assemblyman Dov Hikind’s radio show last night. “I think many times the mayor was not exactly on the front line. He was no Chris Christie, let’s say that.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/20/12 7:53am

new jersey style

(Photo: Getty)

New Yorkers Dig Chris Christie’s Storm Response

Is it the wet fleece? It’s not immediately clear, but according to a new Quinnipiac University Polling Institute survey, New York City voters gave the highest storm response-marks to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, preferring his tactics over President Barack Obama, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Quinnipiac’s director, Maurice Carroll, said these numbers can be attributed to Mr. Christie’s full embrace of Mr. Obama in the wake of the storm.

“The storm-of-the-century brings out the best in Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New Yorkers say. But that love fest between New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie and President Barack Obama seems to have moved voters especially,” Mr. Carroll explained in a statement. “While all four leaders get very high marks – it seems a hug or two never hurts.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/01/12 8:28am

hurricane sandy

(Photo: TheDailyShow.com)

Jon Stewart: ‘Mayor Bloomberg Kicked Ass at His Job’

The Daily Show has been off-air since the start of Hurricane Sandy, but the show came roaring back to life last night and managed to give props to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Governor Chris Christie, all in his new segment, “A Daily Show Tribute to Institutional Competence.”

But Jon Stewart could still get some traditional comedic digs in, pulling out a big soda cup, for example, before discussing Mr. Bloomberg and quipping, “I think we all agree, if these cups were still legal, maybe the city wouldn’t have flooded at all.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/04/12 1:39am

Cheering Section

Rudy Giuliani talking with reporters in the "spin room" ahead of last night's presidential debate in Denver. (Photo: Getty)

Romney’s Debate Performance Earned Rave Reviews From Rudy and Chris Christie

The insta-verdict espoused almost universally by political pundits after last night’s presidential debate is that Mr. Romney emerged with a victory over President Barack Obama. Rather predictably, Mr. Romney’s fellow Republicans from the tri-state area, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey  Governor Chris Christie, agreed with this assessment. Shortly after the debate, the Romney campaign distributed statements from Messrs. Giuliani and Christie in which they called the evening a “clear” victory for Mr. Romney. Read More

By Hunter Walker 9/01/12 11:48pm

Kingdom Con

Mitt Romney on stage at the RNC. (Photo: Getty)

Watch the Throne: While Eastwood Talks to an Empty Chair, the Lords of the GOP Angle for a Seat at the Table

TAMPA, FL — It’s fitting that one of the most enduring images of the 2012 Republican National Convention was Clint Eastwood’s empty chair, since the main purpose of the confab was crowning Mitt Romney as the titular leader of the party, finally filling the seat of GOP power that has remained more or less vacant since John McCain was vanquished by President Barack Obama four years ago.

As the saying goes, when you play the game of thrones, you either win or you die. After his defeat in 2008, Mr. McCain didn’t even bother joining the primary combatants vying to lead the elephant herd into battle against President Obama in this year’s race. His second, Sarah Palin, didn’t have a place in the primaries or at the convention in Tampa. Instead, she was banished to her Facebook page, where she railed against her overlords at Fox News for canceling all of her scheduled appearances, in which she’d hoped to take to the airwaves in praise of Mr. McCain on the night of his RNC cameo.

Like any coronation, last week’s convention was supposed to be a time for Mr. Romney’s fellow Republicans to rally around him and march into combat by his side. However, the ascent of the House of Romney was accomplished without the blessing of the conservative and libertarian factions of the party. As a result, Tampa became a theater for the sorts of behind-the-scenes drama, intrigue and power plays that so often accompany these matters of dynastic succession. Though ostensibly acting as standard bearers for Mr. Romney, the other lords of the GOP seemed to be more interested in plotting their own ascendancies four years from now than in following Mitt into battle against President Obama. Read More