By: Benyamin Davidsons
While the national 2020 Presidential election has yet to reveal a winner, Democratic leaders in New York State are hopefully it will be Biden. In particular, two of the most prominent NY Democrats— Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, are confident that should Joe Biden become president, he will lend them his full support.
Sen. Chuck Schumer co-chaired a luncheon, hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, when Barack Obama was re-elected. At this event, former Vice President Biden had made a public toast to Schumer. “I raise my glass to a man who never, never, never operates out of fear, only operates out of confidence — and I’m toasting you, Chuck,” Biden had said, addressing the unassuming Senator. “And a guy who I plan on working with — you can’t get rid of me, man. Remember, I’m still part of the Senate,” Biden added, referring to his decades in the upper chamber of Congress. As reported by the NY Post, and confirmed by Sen. Schumer, the two long-time Senators have a longstanding business and personal relationship.
“They’re both creatures of the Senate and deeply love its rhythms and its history and when it works. I think he and former Senator, former Vice President Biden respect and understand each other’s skills and background and character,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a close Biden ally who sits in Biden’s former Senate seat, said last month. “Their spouses have a good relationship. They talk regularly,” he added.
When asked to comment, before the election, Schumer had nothing but praise for Biden. “[Biden is] very heavily involved in helping us take back the Senate. I’ve asked him to help me certain ways with some of our candidates and he has, very willingly and easily.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also boasts of a professional rapport with Biden, as per the Post. In 2015, Cuomo earned himself “Biden’s lasting appreciation, and helped cement a personal friendship”, the NY Times reported. Mr. Biden was then considering running for president against Hillary Clinton. Cuomo had reportedly provided much appreciated advice, which forged the enhanced personal and political relationship the two shared. The two Democrats were also mourning simultaneously— Biden for his son Beau and Gov. Cuomo for his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, which led the two to grow closer. “When one of them needs something, it’s automatic. It’s not a calculation,” a source familiar with the relationship told Axios in October.