By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Andrew Cuomo Thursday took his campaign for governor to the streets of Buffalo. Cuomo launched his six week petition drive with visits here and in New York City.
Against the backdrop of an outdoor blues concert downtown, Cuomo began what he's calling his People's Campaign. At least 15,000 of those people will need to give their signatures for the candidate to earn a spot on the democratic primary ballot -- opposite the party backed H. Carl McCall.
Cuomo is taking the non-traditional route after boycotting his party's nominating convention last month. The former Federal Housing Secretary says he's looking to change the culture of Albany.
"Everywhere I go in the state, people say the same thing -- they want their government back, they want their government more responsive, and they want their government to perform better, " said Cuomo. "There is a pervasive sense that Albany just isn't working for them, that you have a lot of politicians in Albany and they do their own political bickering among themselves, they don't pass a budget, they don't get the laws passed. And, meanwhile, government isn't working for people -- and that's what we have to change."
Cuomo seems to be following in the footsteps of his father, former governor Mario Cuomo. The elder Cuomo began his first run for governor portraying himself as a political outsider. Andrew Cuomo says he will tackle a host of issues if he is elected governor. Top on the list -- reducing prescription drug costs.
"New Yorkers now pay the third highest health care costs in the nation," said Cuomo. "With $500,000 in campaign contributions to Albany in the last two years, is Albany listening to the drug companies, or is it responding to the people of Buffalo and the people of New York? I say it's responding to the drug companies and that's why we have to make a change."
Over the next six weeks, the Cuomo staff says 5,000 petition workers will be out collecting signatures from every corner of the state.