WI: Mario Cuomo 2004

An idea that I had was, Former Governor of New York Mario Cuomo making a comeback in the 2000s. In this scenario, Bill Clinton nominates Cuomo to serve as United States Ambassador to Italy, and Cuomo serves in that position from 1995-1997 (I was thinking this would help his foreign policy credentials). Cuomo runs for Governor of New York in the New York Gubernatorial Elections of 1998 and 2002, and wins the rematch against George Pataki. Sometime in early 2003, Cuomo announces his candidacy for President of the United States. Could Cuomo win the nomination in this scenario? I think him serving as Governor between 1999-2003 would give him a 9/11 boost. If he wins the nomination, can he defeat George W. Bush? For a VP nominee, I was thinking he'd pick either Dick Gephardt or Bob Graham. If Cuomo wins in 2004, can he defeat John McCain in 2008?

Another option could be Daniel Patrick Moynihan retiring in 1994, and Cuomo running for US Senate instead of re-election as Governor. Or, Cuomo defeating Al D'Amato in 1998.
 
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In a word: no. Cuomo's political career was over once he lost in 1994. There's no way he could make a comeback against Pataki (who beat him in an upset mind you) even if somehow re-nominated by the Democrats in either 1998 or 2002. Cuomo had his chance to be President in 1992, but he passed it up. Plus, Cuomo would be 72 in 2004. As Dole's example shows, running for President as a first time nominee at that age is a serious hamper to your election.

That said, if he had somehow served as Governor during 9/11 then sure, he'd have a decent chance to beat Bush. But that's so unrealistic it's verging on ASB.
 
In a word: no. Cuomo's political career was over once he lost in 1994. There's no way he could make a comeback against Pataki (who beat him in an upset mind you) even if somehow re-nominated by the Democrats in either 1998 or 2002. Cuomo had his chance to be President in 1992, but he passed it up. Plus, Cuomo would be 72 in 2004. As Dole's example shows, running for President as a first time nominee at that age is a serious hamper to your election.

That said, if he had somehow served as Governor during 9/11 then sure, he'd have a decent chance to beat Bush. But that's so unrealistic it's verging on ASB.

How About Trump? He was elected in his 70s
 
How About Trump? He was elected in his 70s

I agree that age in itself would not necessarily rule Cuomo out. But Cuomo's loss of the 1994 election probably ended any hope of his ever making a comeback, let alone becoming POTUS. Losing by 3.4 points may not seem that bad, but this was with Tom Golisano getting 4.8 percent of the vote, generally agreed to be coming more from Pataki than from Cuomo voters. [1] To make matters worse, it was an upset, with almost all late polls favoring Cuomo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_gubernatorial_election,_1994 I just don't see any reason to suppose that Cuomo could defeat Pataki in either 1998 or 2002 (Pataki won easily both times in OTL).

Besides, by 2002 Andrew Cuomo was running for Governor.

[1] "Cuomo strategists had hoped that conservative businessman B. Thomas Golisano, who was running as an independent, would cut into Pataki's upstate margins." http://articles.latimes.com/1994-11-09/news/mn-60619_1_george-pataki
 
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