(New York) – A strong contingent of Democratic governors and at least one candidate for governor are meeting in New York City, hosted by the reluctant traveler, Governor Andrew Cuomo(D).
It’s billed as the Winter Policy Conference, but make no mistake, the major item on the agenda is politics and fundraising. The DGA is at a disadvantage to the Republican Governors Association when it comes to raising money – mainly because there are fewer Democratic governors in office (29R – 20D – 1In).
Eight incumbents are scheduled to be at the event at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers. Cuomo, DGA chair Martin O’Malley(MD), Steve Beshear(KY), Jack Markell(DE), Jay Nixon(MO), Pat Quinn(IL), Peter Shumlin(VT) and Earl Ray Tomblin(WV).
Also in attendance will be Washington Congressman Jay Inslee who is expected to be the Democratic nominee for governor in the race to succeed Chris Gregoire(D), who chose not to seek re-election.
Democrats face a challenging year ahead when it comes to governors races. Including Wisconsin, there are 12 contests in all. Washington and North Carolina are expected to be the most difficult for Democrats.
Friday’s meeting comes the morning after North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue(D) announced she won’t be seeking re-election. Polls and recent fundraising reports indicated she would have had a difficult time winning a second term against her likely opponent, Pat McCrory(R), the former mayor of Charlotte.
There are a number of Democrats who may compete to take her place, but it is unclear whether any can challenge the momentum McCrory has built up by traveling the state and waiting in the wings over the last three years. Absent a known candidate, North Carolina will stay in the “likely Republican” column in most surveys of the 2012 election cycle.
The Washington contest is another possible net loss for the Democrats. Recent polls have shown Inslee trailing the state’s Republican attorney general with the election less than a year away.
Wisconsin is a marquee race Democrats are focused on, but there was plenty of news this week to suggest Governor Scott Walker(R) may be able to survive an expected recall election. He is heavily out-raising and out-spending the Democratic/union alliance working to remove him from office and a new poll shows he is leading any of his potential Democratic challengers by six to ten points.
The New York location of the DGA winter policy meeting is critical. Governor Cuomo has made a point of staying in state through much of his first year in office, so if the DGA wanted to tap into his fundraising network and other New York money, the association had to come to him. The case was the same in California last fall, where Governor Jerry Brown(D) has also confined himself to his home state. Cuomo’s effort to stay clear of the national stage was highlighted further Friday morning when three of his colleagues appeared on MSNBC, without their host.
