- Title: Cynthia Nixon casts herself as latest Democratic insurgent in NY governor race
- Date: 9th September 2018
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 7, 2018) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK GOVERNOR CYNTHIA NIXON OUTSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL SHE ATTENDED SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK GOVERNOR, CYNTHIA NIXON, SAYING: "Yeah. We are running around, we are running around. We are meeting with people all over the city. We are doing 'get out the vote.' We are doing rallies, we are doing parties. We are just non-stop." NIXON WALKING PAST SCHOOL SPEAKING WITH VOTER WOMAN HAVING HER PICTURE TAKEN WITH NIXON NIGHT SCENE INSIDE A BAR WHERE BAND IS WARMING UP (SOUNDBITE) (English) WIFE OF NIXON, CHRISTINE MARINONI, SAYING: "We very much appreciate you coming in, and packing yourself in here like sardines." CROWD CHANTING 'CYNTHIA' AS NIXON TAKES MICROPHONE TO SPEAK WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK GOVERNOR CYNTHIA NIXON, SAYING: "Welcome everybody. Welcome so much. Thank you for turning out. I am Cynthia Nixon, and I am running for governor of New York State. And I am running because I love New York -- and I believe in New York." NIXON MEETING WITH SUPPORTERS AND HUGGING SUPPORTER
- Embargoed: 23rd September 2018 11:03
- Keywords: New York Nixon Cuomo
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0018WWM24N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In the final days of actress Cynthia Nixon's insurgent campaign against incumbent New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, she and her supporters have taken to repeating three names as if an incantation: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Andrew Gillum and Ayanna Pressley.
All three were candidates from the party's emboldened left wing who seemed doomed in opinion polls before pulling off upset victories. Ocasio-Cortez, a Latina woman, and Pressley, a black woman, both defeated long-time incumbents of U.S. Congress seats in New York and Massachusetts; Gillum, a black man, won the open primary in Florida's governor race.
Nixon, a first-time candidate without governing experience, is known for her years starring on HBO's "Sex and the City," set in New York. She is hoping to repeat the success of other less-heralded names in Thursday's nominating contest against Cuomo, who is seeking a third term.
Nixon's opposition mirrors those of others who argue Democrats nationwide have been far too cautious in embracing progressive proposals, wary of alienating more moderate voters.
Nixon, 52, has lagged more than 30 points behind Cuomo in opinion polls, and he has outraised her nearly 50 times over, though far more of Nixon's support comes from small donors.
She says Cuomo, 60, the son of a former governor, is out of touch with the party's diverse ranks, and too aligned with conservative Republicans and moneyed corporations to be running one of the country's most liberal states. Cuomo is one of 16 Democratic governors nationwide. There are 33 Republicans and one independent.
Cuomo has talked more about U.S. President Donald Trump on the campaign and his aides have derided Nixon as a talented but unqualified actress.
Cuomo has drawn the ire of some voters, angered that he for years allowed several Democratic members of the state's senate to caucus with Republicans to give that party the advantage in the statehouse.
Cuomo counters that he has a record of passing same-sex marriage and paid family leave in New York State. The winner on Thursday faces Republican Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, in November. Both Cuomo and newspaper editorial boards have criticized Nixon's lack of management experience and cast her proposals, particularly her plan for state universal health care, as fantastically expensive. Nixon has been vague on funding beyond saying there are plenty of rich people in New York to tax.
At the school, Nixon stood on the sidewalk where parents and children were filing by, her right hand floating out before her, sometimes ignored by passersby but more often shaken as people recognized her face. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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