Koch Edorses Cuomo For A.G.

Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic front-runner in the race for state attorney general, has picked up the endorsement of a fairly well-known New Yorker - former New York mayor Ed Koch.

Koch, and Cuomo's father, former governor Mario Cuomo, were often at political odds. Koch deafeated Cuomo in a mayoral primary in 1977 and Cuomo turned the tables in the 1982 election for governor.

The endorsement is especially interesting because of the controversy involving alleged use by someone in the 1977 Mario Cuomo mayoral campaign of the slogan "vote for Cuomo, not the homo." A reference to Koch,who has denied the implication vehemently and often.

The flap flaired up again earlier this year when Cuomo the younger denied, at a meeting of the Stonewall Democratic Club, that his father's campaign ever used the slogan. The Daily News reported back in January that Koch was angered by Andrew Cuomo's denials, saying he would "never" support Cuomo's bid for attorney general.

RUDY LOOKING TO BUY HILLARY'S FAVORITE BASEBALL TEAM?

Former mayor Rudy Giuliani, perhaps the most well-known of the millions of die-hard Yankee fans around the country (I'm not one of them by the way), is reported to be looking to buy a major league baseball team, and it's not the Yankees.

The New York Post reports today Giuliani's company is looking to team up with Chicago Cub icon Ernie Banks (think 1960s for all you gen-Xers out there), to buy Banks' old team. The Cubs used to be Sen. Hillary Clinton's favorite team, since she grew up in Illinois. She has since claimed allegiance to the Yankees (for some reason).

I won't say who my favorite team is because they don't deserve a mention right now, but they are always being pestered to get rid of their smiling, bright red mascot because he is seen as politically incorrect.

CLINTON FINISHES SECOND IN IOWA PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE POLL

If she hopes to get off to a fast start in what is seen as a likely run for president, Hillary Clinton has at least a little work to do in Iowa, the first state that will weigh-in on the 2008 election. The Des Moines Register has a poll out today that puts Hillary second among the possible Democratic candidates in '08. She trails former V.P. candidate John Edwards 30% to 26%. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsak finished fourth, at 10%. John Kerry was third at 12%. The newspaper's political columnist David Yepsen writes that the results are bad news for Clinton, Kerry and Vilsack

HILLARY NOT RIDING ON BILL'S COATTAILS

There's an interesting story in the Journal News this morning about Hillary Clinton's campaign. The newspaper, by examining campaign records, has found that Hillary's list of donors has very little overlap with that of her husband, the former president, Bill Clinton.

DEMS MAKING HEADWAY IN FUNDRAISING RACE, WASHINGTON POST SAYS

A report in the Washington Post today says the fundraising gap between the Democrats and Republicans is getting smaller. The Post says it's due to a rise in small, individual contributions, which shows the Dems' grassroots (actual voters) support is strong.

SWEENEY MAKES IT OFFICIAL

Republican Rep. John Sweeney, the incumbent in New York's 20th District, has made it official. He's running. Capitol Confidential reported Sweeney made his official announcement yesterday.