The Working Families Party is eying education activist Diane Ravitch as its gubernatorial candidate should the liberal minor party decide to withhold its backing of Gov. Cuomo, a source told the Daily News Wednesday morning.
The party has spoken to Ravitch, 75, about possibly being its nominee and she has expressed interest, the source said.
"Either way, she'll have a role at Saturday's (WFP) convention," the source said.
It's still unclear in which direction the party will go.
Working Families Party heads want nothing to do with nominating anybody on their ballot line who doesn't have the name Andrew M. Cuomo - that's quite clear.
It's also pretty obvious that many rank-and-file WFP members despise Andrew Cuomo and do not want the party to endorse Cuomo for re-election.
The problem WFP has with putting a candidate other than Andrew Cuomo on their ballot line is that if they garner less than 50,000 votes, they lose that line on the ballot next time around.
This is one of the reasons that some party leaders give for why WFP should not nominate anyone other than Andrew Cuomo - political expediency.
Putting a high profile candidate like Ravitch on the ballot line might solve that problem for WFP, as parents and teachers opposed to high stakes testing, Common Core, teacher evaluations tied to test scores and other corporate education reforms promoted by Andrew Cuomo and his corporate Democratic ilk could flock to support Ravitch in November.
It's an interesting idea, but I have a difficult time seeing the union heads who help fund the Working Families Party letting Ravitch grab the ballot slot when they have contract negotiations to do with Cuomo and they want to use the WFP endorsement as collateral.
Still, crazier things have happened in politics than WFP nominating an esteemed candidate like Diane Ravitch to run for governor.
After watching disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner jump into the 2013 NYC mayoral race, grab the lead in at least one poll, then suffer through a second scandal when it turned out he actually hadn't stopped sexting when he said he had, I'm ready to believe just about anything can happen in politics.
So Ravitch on the Working Families Party ballot line to take on Andrew Cuomo in November?
Let's do it!
Diane Ravitch is very popular in NY state. She would receive a large share of the votes. Also, she would be able to give Cuomo
ReplyDeletea schooling in educational policicy issues.
I agree on all counts. Now we'll have to see if WFP puts her on the ballot. My sense is, the heads of the party will do all they can to make sure she doesn't get on the ballot line.
DeleteI would definitely move back to NYC just to vote for Diane! If she decides not to run, then we must GO GREEN.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.howiehawkins.org/
That's where I am at as well.
DeleteShe's 75 years old? Farina is 70? What is this the Golden Girls? retire ladies.
ReplyDeleteAge is not a factor for me. I think both are completely capable women.
DeleteWasn't Ronald Reagan 70 when he became President? It burns me up when some people view older men as seasoned while older women should "retire". Even if she doesn't win, she could at least bring education issues to the forefront of the race.
ReplyDeleteGo Diane!
Mary
Reagan was 68 when he was elected.
DeleteYes! She has my vote!
ReplyDeleteLet's just keep this in mind the next time someone (a teacher, Diane herself, etc) goes batshit because a principal, superintendent, "reformer," or teacher (TFA, fellows, etc.) hasn't come up through the ranks and isn't deeply and directly experienced in the field in which they work. Paymon Rouhanifard e.g., is a hell of a lot more qualified to be the superintendent of Camden schools than Diane Ravitch is to be the governor of NY.
ReplyDeleteIronically Ravitch;s ex-husband Richard Ravitch could have been governor had Paterson been indicted the way he should have been over the criminal tampering case involving his aide:
Deletehttp://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2014/05/cuomo-puts-criminal-in-charge-of-state.html
I bet we can agree that Richard Ravitch is qualified to run the state gov't, Tim.
Ironically Richard Ravitch could have become governor had David Paterson been indicted for tampering in a criminal case involving his aide - as he should have been.
DeleteI bet we can both agree that Ravitch, Richard has the chops to be governor, Tim.
I vote for Diane!
ReplyDeleteI would too!
DeleteShe can throw a monkey wrench into Cuomo's 2016 dreams http://www.southbronxschool.com/2014/05/will-governor-cuomo-come-in-and-save.html
ReplyDeleteAs can Zephyr Teachout, which is why there is so much pushback from the unions and Cuomo himself. I suspect the pressure will keep WFP from endorsing anybody but Cuomo. Hope I'm wrong, though!
DeleteNot her age but her health is what I am thinking. Hasn't she been hospitalized lately and before that too? I criticize her for not being enough of a jihadist but how can I not love her? This could make for some highly entertaining debates if the little weasel would ever agree to one.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Sean, I would worry about her health as well. Which is probably a good reason for why she bowed out, saying she is not a candidate for any office.
DeleteI love Diane Ravitch. But she won't win. Put someone in that will win. I will never vote for Cuomo again. Let Eva Moskowitz and Bloomberg vote for him. Please put a contender in there that will take back the office.
ReplyDeleteBarring an unforeseen scandal or indictment in the Moreland mess (which is unlikely), Cuomo wins re-election. He can be seriously damaged by keeping him under 50%, especially if Astorino and a third party candidate combine to have a higher vote tally than him. He could manage to get re-elected, but the story will be, the majority of New Yorkers on the let and right do not like him and did not vote for him. Alas, I think that's the best we can do at this point.
Delete