With help from our friends at Wikipedia, “coattails" is defined as follows:
“The coattail effect is the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election. For example, in the United States, the party of a victorious presidential candidate will often win many seats in Congress as well; these congressmen are voted into office “on the coattails” of the president.
This theory is prevalent at all levels of government. A popular statewide candidate for governor or senator can attract support for down ballot races of their party as well. The term of voting a straight ticket can also be used.”
As it stands now, it’s looking like Cuomo may not have coattails in the races for State Attorney General, and Comptroller – A Siena College poll shows the two races are a dead heat. Republican Harry Wilson tied with Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, and Republican Dan Donovan closing the 7 point gap with State Senator Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General.
But perhaps the answer may not be as simple as Cuomo’s popularity in the battles for Attorney General and Comptroller.
There are other factors at play like the “throw the bums out” mentality that is sweeping America, there’s also the possibility of voters not wanting one political party to hold all the state-wide positions. (In the recent past- it worked against republicans- now it may go against Democrats) In other words, if for example, Democrats hold the Governor and Comptroller positions, voters of the state have preferred the Attorney General to be a Republican.
In the Attorney General battle, if Donovan does win, he can thank in large part that commercial that features together Former Mayor Ed Koch and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It’s effective, was timed accurately for the final days of the campaign and plays exactly to the Independent voter that will decide this contest. Plus, it cuts at Schneiderman large NY city base. In this tight contest, even a percentage drop could make the difference between success and failure.
DiNapoli may be more of a “throw the bums out,” should he lose.
It seems the public never forgave DiNapoli for obtaining the job by being selected from Albany lawmakers. Albany picking one of their own.
Once he got the job, DiNapoli, while considered a nice guy, never really stood out for anything. The fact that DiNapoli is in the battle of his life against Harry Wilson, a former Wall Street executive, in his first campaign for public office is more a reflection on DiNapoli, than it is on Wilson.
Just a few weeks ago, Wilson trailed DiNapoli by 17 points.
We'll see what happens tomorrow. It's in your hands now.