As he slowly but steadily builds a record of accomplishment in the state capitol, rumors are already starting to swirl that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo might--already--be setting himself up as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for President.
In 2016, that is, since current President Barack Obama will likely be a shoo-in for his party's nomination for re-election in 2012.
Cuomo's first six months in Albany have allowed the governor to display the interesting and unusual ability to please both sides of the political aisle. His liberal bona-fides are of no question after this weekend, having successfully ushered through the legislature law granting full marriage rights to same-sex couples in New York State, one of only six states in the nation to recognize such unions.
Meanwhile, unlike the contentious relations between state and public union leaders in Wisconsin and New Jersey, Cuomo has managed to successfully induce sweeping wage and benefits concessions totalling $1.5 billion over five years from NY's Civil Service Employees Association, a move that endears him to good government and fiscally conservative watchdogs.
Cuomo's popularity has become such that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was forced today to publicly walk back his alleged "feud" with his state counterpart, asserting that both men agree on nearly every major issue. Meanwhile, the Governor has instructed his staff to remain "mum" on the 2016 issue, but clearly it's become already such a talk that it's a story unto itself.
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