◼ POLITICS Bloomberg Businessweek December 21, 2020
27RudolphGiulianiaftertheSept.11 terrorist attacks
in 2001, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
after Hurricane Sandy, the state’s costliest natural
disaster, in 2012. Giuliani and Christie rode a tide
of national popularity to presidential runs in 2008
and 2016, respectively. But their campaigns fizzled
out, with their subsequent actions overshadowing
earlier heroics.
The Covid-19 outbreak has already changed
political dynamics for the governors in their home
states. New York’s legislature gave Cuomo broad
emergency powers to fight the pandemic—and
some lawmakers say it’s time to curb them. Cuomo
also has asserted control over New York CityMayor
Bill de Blasio, sparking disagreementsoverthe
opening of schools and businesses. In NewJersey,
Murphy was able to persuade lawmakerstoenact
tax increases and borrow billions of dollars,but
cooperation may go south in 2021.
Cuomo is now the most followed governor
on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, andTwitter,
according to data from his office. With aQueens
accent and tough-guy atti-
tude, he peppers his brief-
ings with stories about life
on lockdown with his three
daughters and how he
misses visiting his 89-year-
old mother. He shared the
Covid diagnosis of his brother, CNN anchorChris
Cuomo, who appeared via video at a briefing.On
his brother’s prime-time show, the two tradedjabs
over who was the favorite son.
Murphy has his own routine. At eachbriefing
he introduces his health commissioner,Judith
Persichilli, as “the woman who needs no introduc-
tion.” He welcomes back reporters who
missed briefings and asks about their
health. And he pays tribute to New
Jerseyans who died from the coronavi-
rus by telling their stories to the nation.
Not all watchers are fans. Cuomo
hasbeenchastisedforwritinga best-
sellingbookamidthevirusstruggle,forshut-
tingdownNewYorkCitybusinesses andlimiting
religious gatherings, and for his handlingofthe
state’s nursing homes, where thousands diedfrom
Covid-19. Reaction was mixed in Novemberwhen
he received an Emmy for his “masterfuluseof
television to inform and calm people aroundthe
world.”Inmid-Decembera formeraideaccused
Cuomoofsexualharassment,a chargehesaid
wasuntrue.
In a Nov. 24 Siena College poll, registeredNew
York voters gave Cuomo a job performancerating
of 54%. Although that’s lower than the high of 71%
he got in April, it’s well above his pre-pandemic
level of 36% in February.
Murphy’s high approval in the pandemic’s early
months has also slid. Protesters wanting busi-
nesses to open up and restrictions to ease have
demonstrated outside the governor’s home.
Murphy has grown more comfortable speak-
ing out against critics and blasting officials in
Washington for not sending more stimulus to
states. Last month, when a reporter asked for his
response to people who complain about wear-
ing masks, he bristled: “You know what’s really
uncomfortable and annoying? When you die.” In
early December he became national news after
he called Representative Matt Gaetz, a Florida
Republican, a “putz” for attending a fundraiser
in New Jersey that broke distanc-
ing rules.
For a guy unknown by a
third of New Jersey voters in a
mid-2019 poll, the
publicity could be
priceless heading into
his reelection campaign. “Whether
they like it or not, they’re probably
more familiar with me,” Murphy said
on Dec. 9, “given that we’re all going
through this together.”
All the exposure, though, comes with risk. As
the pandemic drags on, people may start to believe
that the governor hasn’t done enough, says Patrick
Murray, director of the Monmouth University
Polling Institute. Even widespread immunity six
or eight months from now may lead to a good
news-bad news scenario. “There is the danger for
Murphy that all the goodwill he built up during
Covid could simply disappear, as New Jerseyans
turn their attention to more mundane issues like
property taxes,” Murray says.6003000Governors’PopularitySlipsasSecondWaveRises2/1/20 12/13/20NewCovidcasespermillion,NewJersey
PhilMurphy’sjobapprovalrating
7777
62622/1/20 12/13/20NewCovidcasespermillion,NewYork
AndrewCuomo’s job approval ratingDATA: COVID TRACKING PROJECT, SIENA POLL, RUTGERS-EAGLETON POLL3636547171