CUOMO AGAINST NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING

Gov. Mario Cuomo, on March 16, cautioned the Democratic presidential candidates against negative campaigning, saying such attacks are like a bar-room brawl in which each blow is heavier than the last.

"I still do not believe that it is helpful to do what the Democrats are now doing," Cuomo said. "That is a Republican game and we oughtn't be playing it." He said escalating negative attacks are "inevitable once you start."

"You have a country that is in deep, deep trouble. To try to respond to it by negative attacks on one another is not going to sit well with the public," he said.

The New York governor chose not to run following a long period of speculation.