More Bad Blood Between Cuomo and Progressives

More evidence is emerging that actor Cynthia Nixon's gubernatorial challenge is rattling incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Last week, as it was looking like the Working Families Party would endorse Nixon instead of the incumbent in the Democratic primary, reports emerged that Cuomo had told union leaders that if they funded any group supporting his rival, they could "lose his number."

The party, which was formed 20 years ago by labor unions and grassroots organizations to pull Democrats to the left, ended up endorsing Nixon, but not before two of its largest and financially important members, the Communication Workers of America and SEIU 32BJ, dropped out — perhaps so they could hang onto Cuomo's number.

On Thursday, the governor denied he ever threatened the unions. "The Working Families people are delusional if they think anyone is going to tell the unions who to support and not support," he said at an unrelated press conference. "It's totally up to the unions."

That was cold comfort for progressive activists rallying in downtown Manhattan later in the day. Community organizations that remained in the Working Families Party blasted Cuomo's alleged comments. And the party's state director, Bill Lipton, said he was in the room when Cuomo urged labor leaders to back out.

"If he's saying that he has nothing to do with it, he's lying," Lipton said.

At the press conference, Cuomo was also asked if he would promise not to punish liberal community groups backing Nixon by withdrawing state funding.

He responded: "Punishment is for God."