In affluent Westchester County, where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one, County Executive Rob Astorino likes to remind voters that he is a conservative Republican who won public office with support from Democrats – among them, Hispanics, Jews and African Americans.
It’s an important distinction for Astorino, a 47-year-old, former radio executive, who is running for governor of New York in the upcoming November election.
In Astorino’s estimation, his 2009 upset win over a popular incumbent Democrat in Westchester is evidence he can unseat Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is seeking a second term. Key to his strategy is tapping into conservative strands of the traditionally Democratic groups, particularly those who are pro-life and don’t support gay marriage.
Astorino has visited black and Hispanic churches – he speaks Spanish fluently — and engaged the Jewish community. But experts in New York politics say he faces a hurdle that requires more than support from Democrats he's met. He lacks name recognition and the type of campaign budget that can buy radio and television advertising to make his name a household one.
Steven Greenberg, pollster with the Siena Research Institute, said Astorino has been outspent by Cuomo more than 10-to-1, leaving him unable to reach voters in the largest media market in the nation.
“It takes a lot of money to get known, and Astorino is still unknown to 40 percent of the voters in this state,” Greenberg said. “To get known … get liked, give voters a reason to vote for you, give voters a reason to vote against Andrew Cuomo — who they’re currently inclined to vote for — all of that costs money.”
Astorino, a married father of one boy and two girls, first held public office at age 21, when he was elected to the Mount Pleasant Board of Education. He rose up through the town board and then the county legislature before taking over as chief executive of Westchester, with its nearly 1 million residents. He was re-elected to a second term last year.
Outside of politics, he was a program director at The Catholic Channel on satellite radio, and he hosted a weekly radio show from St. Patrick’s Cathedral with the archbishop of New York. On the campaign trail, Astorino devotes a significant amount of time to conservative radio programs and Republican groups. Last month, he stopped at the Women’s National Republican Club, where he was endorsed by conservative Carly Fiorina, a former Hewlett-Packard executive who denounced late-term abortion as “inhumane.”
Cuomo has referred to him as an ultra-conservative. Astorino says he can work with all groups.
Another hurdle Astorino must clear is voter affection for what some call the Cuomo dynasty. Deborah Williams, who heard Astorino speak at an event last month, said New Yorkers know the governor and his hugely popular father, Mario Cuomo.
She believes that legacy will be difficult for Astorino to overcome.
