Bill Clinton endorses former top aide Cuomo for NYC mayor

Ex-President Bill Clinton on Sunday endorsed his former Housing secretary Andrew Cuomo in the Big Apple’s mayoral primary, describing the city as in “crisis’’ and his pal as a “competent leader.”In a robocall released by Cuomo’s campaign, the Democratic former commander in chief urged New Yorkers to back the ex-governor in the Tuesday’s Dem showdown.“The election will decide the next mayor of New York, and I urge you to vote for Andrew Cuomo,” Clinton said in the recorded message.“As president, I chose Andrew to be my secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and he never let me down.”Clinton, 78, lives in tony Chappaqua in Westchester County with his wife Hillary, New York’s former senator who spectacularly lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential election.The ex-prez is currently at the top of Cuomo’s online list of endorsements — while Hillary is nowhere to be seen.Bill Clinton noted in his call that Cuomo worked in his presidential administration on such issues as affordable housing and helping to stave off hate, including “discrimination, including against the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and antisemitism.”The ex-president said Cuomo can fix what he called a city in “crisis.“New York City is facing major challenges.

There is a desperate need for affordable housing, homelessness is at a crisis level, and public safety must be restored,” Clinton said.“It is imperative that New York chooses a mayor who has the ability, talent, and experience to do the job.“He’s a fighter who knows how to make government work, and at a time when our basic rights are under assault, I know he’ll stand up and protect the people of this city,” he said of Cuomo, adding his Dem buddy has the ability to raise the “progressive standard.”Cuomo, 67, responded to the endorsement with gratitude.“I am honored to have the support of President Bill Clinton — a personal mentor, friend, and hero.  His administration was one of the most accomplished ...