ICYMI: Sen. John DeFrancisco told me during a CapTon interview last night that he doubts Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo would actually pull the trigger and cross party lines to endorse GOP senators this fall – even though he has left the door open  to doing so.

I just think he’s going to stay neutral,” the senator said “…I’m sure he would like to continue on the relationship that we have and try to keep government operating much more efficiently and effectively. But I think that’s a leap for him to do that.”

I agree with DeFrancisco’s assessment. To actually diss fellow Democrats in an election year would be crossing the Rubicon for Cuomo. He would have a very difficult time explaining that away to rank-and-file Democrats – the kind that tend to vote in presidential primaries and caucuses – if and when he decides to take his act national.

Anyway, he’s done enough damage simply by saying he’ll make endorsement decisions on a case-by-case basis instead of supporting one conference over the other as they head into Round II of their war for control of the Senate. He doesn’t have to actually jump off that cliff to make it any more clear what he’s hoping the outcome of this battle will be.

So far, Cuomo has not issued any legislative endorsements, either for the upcoming Sept. 13 primary or the November general election.

Of course, if the governor was to actually endorse a Republican, it would probably be one of the three remaining majority members seeking re-election this fall – Sens. Mark Grisanti, Steve Saland and Roy McDonald – after angering the right by voting “yes” on same-sex marriage. The fourth, Sen. Jim Alesi, is retiring at the end of the year.

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