ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The manager from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2010 campaign is returning to lead his re-election bid, the New York State Democratic Committee announced Monday.
Joe Percoco was a longtime adviser to Cuomo before serving as campaign manager for his successful 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Percoco worked for Cuomo’s father, the former Gov. Mario Cuomo, before serving as a top aide to Andrew Cuomo during his tenure as U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development and New York attorney general.
Cuomo’s 2014 team also includes Michael Donilon, a leading Democratic media consultant who has served as a senior adviser to Vice President Joe Biden. Donilon worked on the re-election campaign of President Barack Obama and has advised numerous U.S. senate campaigns.
Cuomo has not formally launched his re-election bid, but he’s already ahead in polls, name recognition and fundraising. He faces Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins in the November election.
The Democratic Committee also announced that Neal Kwatra will be chief strategist for the party’s campaign effort. Kwatra is a former chief of staff to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
“This is a group of some of the country’s most talented political operatives with a wide variety of experience coming together to form a team that will win on every level, from issues and substance to press, politics, media and field,” said Rodney Capel, the Democratic Committee’s executive director.
The state Democratic Party will hold its convention next month in Suffolk County.
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