Andrew Cuomo, Zephyr Teachout parade video goes viral
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo greeted participants in New York City’s Labor Day Parade on Saturday, but one person didn’t get a warm welcome: his primary opponent.
A video posted on NewYorkTrue.com shows Zephyr Teachout, who is challenging Cuomo in the state’s Democratic primary, approaching the governor at the parade. She tries several times to get his attention, but first an aide asks everyone to step back, and then Cuomo turns away from Teachout, shouting instead to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. De Blasio moves through the crowd and hugs Cuomo, but neither acknowledges Teachout in the minute-long clip.
The video made waves on Twitter, with commenters calling the exchange “awkward” and “cringeworthy.”
Cuomo is expected to win the Democratic primary on Tuesday, but his reputation and political clout have taken a hit this election year. Teachout and running mate Tim Wu have attempted to brand Cuomo as being out of touch with progressivism in New York, including economic and labor issues.
In a brief interview after the parade, also posted on NewYorkTrue.com, Cuomo said he wasn’t able to talk to Teachout earlier in the day.
“I know she was at the parade, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to her,” he said.