Gov. Cuomo Chooses Not To Take Texas Gov. Perry's Bait On Job Outlook
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Call it the Texas economic challenge.
Governor Rick Perry is in New York to lure corporations to the "Lone Star State," and decided to invite Gov. Andrew Cuomo to defend what he calls our unfriendly business climate.
As CBS 2's Marcia Kramer reported Tuesday, the showdown pits two presidential wannabes against each other.
According to a recent Perry campaign ad, "New York is the most unfriendly state for business." That's Perry doing a Texas two-step, dancing into the city with a personal appeal and a slick ad campaign to wrangle New York businesses into relocating to Texas.
"If you're tired of New York, there's an option, Texas … creating jobs, creating success, leading the way," the ad says.
However, Perry, who has been mentioned as a possible 2016 Republican presidential candidate, couldn't mosey into New York without trying to poke a stick into Gov. Cuomo's cage. After all, Cuomo is also a presidential wannabe -- on the Democratic side of the ledger.
Perry challenged Cuomo to debate the business climate in New York compared to Texas.
"Moody's rated New York 47th in job creation outlook in 2014; CNBC ranked New York 35th its best states for business survey. CEO magazine ranked New York 49th in its annual ranking of best states to do business and Texas was No. 3 in that job creation outlook," Perry said.
Cuomo, who is running for re-election and apparently seeking to avoid publicity for perceived weaknesses -- like a challenging state business climate -- declined to engage.
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, however, jumped in.
"The sideshow must end at some point. Hopefully, the carpet will be rolled up and every job will stay here," Mark-Viverito said.
And so did the Democratic Governors Association. It released the video from Perry's embarrassing "oops" moment during the 2012 presidential debates
"It's three agencies of government. When I get there that are gone -- Commerce, Education and the um ... what's the third one there, let's see … Commerce, Education and … EPA. EPA, there you go," Perry had said.
Danny Kanner, the communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, offered what he called a little free advice for Perry.
"The fewer debates with anyone, the better," Kanner said.
As for Cuomo's re-election campaign, a new poll shows the governor retaining a double-digit lead over his Republican challenger for governor. The Siena College poll shows Cuomo with 58 percent, slightly down from last month. Republican Rob Astorino, the Westchester County executive, has 28 percent.
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