It is simple: Cuomo is going to win, the WFP had less leverage than it beleives, and this is a battle that has no victory scenario for Progressive Democrats and Liberals. I totally get why folks are upset with Governor 1%. But flanking him at this point isn't the right move. I, like de Blasio, would have advised patience.
There were several salient problems from the start:
1. No Candidate.
I'm a firm beleiver that candidates matter and campaigns matter. Public sentiment may give you good soil, but you only get a crop with a proper farmer. Cuomo's left simply doesn't have a serious candidate who can mount a credible challenge. The names thrown about were jokes, not serious politicians. Without a candidate, don't even bother me with 'primary' talk.
2. Weak Republican.
If there was a strong GOP challenger who could have made a race out of it, a challenge to Cuomo's left could have at least yielded some concessions. But with a weak Republican opponent, a 30 point lead in the polls, and a $33 million warchest, why would Cuomo yield anything? There's not much that one can do when the landscape is so heavily tilted in favor of the incumbent governor.
3. Quiet factor.
As I've been saying in the comments, the reason Cuomo is in such dominant shape is because Albany is quiet. For over 20 years, Albany has been world famous for how awful government can get. Both parties were, and in most cases still are, completely awful. Words like dysfunctional, sclerotic, rancid, and putrid were daily words when discussing the place. And now, its just...quiet. New Yorkers and upstate people have the bar set so low, that merely not making any noise is enough for high approval. New York tends to send good people to Washington and to City Hall. But when it comes to Albany...bring your HazMat suit. Any politician will tell you its an awful place to do anything except feather your own nest. If Cuomo wants to govern that cesspool, most of New York's elected officials are happy to leave him to it.
Now I realize that Cuomo has done some fucked up shit. Especially helping keep the Senate in GOP hands. But, err...the Dems here are a mess too (there are some racial tensions here too). The State Senate Dems are some of the worst public officials in the state when they can avoid prison, which is barely. Nor do they function effectively as a caucus. That doesn't justify Cuomo's actions, of course. But it does give it some context. But Cuomo has done a lot of other fucked up shit on top of that.
Kos has an interest in hurting Cuomo's margin, in order to damage some future presidential ambitions. I don't think therenis any chance he makes it past a media boomlet. Quite simply, he's not presidential timber. He's an ugly man, #1. He's not convincing on the stump, nor is he an able, brilliant campaigner. His personal life is distinctly non-presidential and on top of it all with his record he can't get through a national Democratic Primary. Its not going to happen. And if Hillary runs, he wont even win his own state.
Finally, New York WFP folks should not be discouraged. Gov. 1% is likely to hit rocky waters next year as we ramp up to the national election. Like Trenton and Christie, you cant come up in Albany and not get dirty along the way. He's going to get softer and easier to hurt after re-election. But most importantly, start rallying around a leader...a progressive politician who can win. Patience...Cuomo's day will come.