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Cuomo Takes Millions from Special Interests

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24:  New York Attorney Gen...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo says he wants to crack down on special interests and the black box of campaign cash, but when he steps off the stage, he gladly cashes their checks.

An analysis by The New York Times shows that of the estimated $7.1 million that the Cuomo campaign has received from political action committees, associations, limited liability corporations and other entities, more than half has come from the biggest players in Albany: organized labor, the real estate and related industries like construction, the health care sector and lobbying firms.

In the spirit of reform, Mr. Cuomo pledged in 2007 not to accept donations over $10,000 from most categories of contributors during an election cycle. But he did not stick to that vow and has at times received amounts five times as great.

The donations underscore the awkwardness of Mr. Cuomo's effort to run against Albany and its insiders at the same time he is benefiting from their largess and, in some cases, his long relationships with them. He drew a similar proportion of his campaign money from special interests in his failed 2002 campaign for governor and his 2006 bid for attorney general.

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