The Cuomo Campaign has lined up the support of several state Republicans. Though the list isn’t filled with too many surprises.

On the list is former GOP Chair Pat Barrett, who has been raising money for Cuomo, former State Senator Michael Balboni, who left his seat to work for the Spitzer administration, and former Pataki aide Michael McKeon and Republican fundraiser Julie Koch.

Cuomo’s camp says the 4 Republicans will head an effort to build bi-partisan support.

“When this campaign began, I said New Yorkers need to put aside party differences and come together to clean up New York and make it work again,” Cuomo said. “By helping me reach out to their fellow Republicans, Chairman Barrett, Senator Balboni, Michael McKeon and Julia Koch will be instrumental in creating a governing coalition that actually gets something done.”

Entire press release is after the jump.

CUOMO STARTS REACHING OUT TO REPUBLICANS

Asks former GOP Party Chair Pat Barrett, former State Senator Michael Balboni, former Pataki aide Michael McKeon & GOP Fundraiser Julia Koch to lead outreach to NY Republicans

Andrew Cuomo today announced that former New York GOP State Party Chair Patrick Barrett, former State Senator Michael Balboni, former Pataki aide Michael McKeon, and Republican fundraiser Julia Koch have agreed to head up his campaign’s efforts to reach out to Republicans in New York. At his campaign launch last Saturday, Cuomo emphasized that he would aggressively reach out to Republican and Independent voters in addition to Democratic ones.

“When this campaign began, I said New Yorkers need to put aside party differences and come together to clean up New York and make it work again,” Cuomo said. “By helping me reach out to their fellow Republicans, Chairman Barrett, Senator Balboni, Michael McKeon and Julia Koch will be instrumental in creating a governing coalition that actually gets something done.”

“For the last four years, we’ve watched as our economy faltered and Albany imploded. When we needed Albany at its best, it was at its worst,” Barrett said. “I shudder to think what the implications will be for New York if we don’t elect a competent governor in November. Andrew Cuomo’s agenda is fiscally prudent and one that all New Yorkers regardless of political affiliation can support.”

“We have reached a point in New York where the political fault lines are no longer Republican vs. Democrat vs. Independent,” Balboni said. “The new political fault line pits the people against the special interests and Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly shown the independence to take on special interests regardless of political affiliation. And that’s how you clean up Albany.”

“We don’t believe hyper-partisanship is what is needed at this time. What is needed is someone who is willing to do what it takes to right the ship of state. As Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo has focused on doing just that,” McKeon said. “We will organize around his agenda of cleaning up Albany, keeping taxes in check and freezing spending because we believe he is the only candidate running with the experience and capacity to make this platform a reality.”

Barrett, Balboni, McKeon and Koch will focus on organizing rank and file Republicans to support Cuomo’s gubernatorial bid as well as reaching out to Republican leaders throughout New York over the course of the next five months.

Patrick Barrett served as New York State Republican Party Chairman from 1989 to 1991. Michael Balboni is a former member of the New York State Senate. Michael McKeon served as Director of Communications for Governor George Pataki and a senior advisor to Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign. Julia Koch is a long-time supporter of Republican candidates across the country.

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