In the 35th-floor conference room of a Manhattan high-rise, two of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s most trusted advisers held a secret meeting a few weeks ago with a group of super-rich Republican donors.
Over tuna and turkey sandwiches, the advisers explained that New York’s Democratic Governor was determined to legalise same-sex marriage and would deliver every possible Senate vote from his own party.
Would the donors win over the deciding Senate Republicans? It sounded improbable: top Republican moneymen helping a Democratic rival with one of his biggest legislative goals.
But the donors in the room – the billionaire Paul Singer, whose son is gay, joined by the hedge fund managers Cliff Asness and Daniel Loeb – had the influence and the money to insulate nervous senators from conservative backlash if they supported the marriage measure. And they were inclined to see the issue as one of personal freedom that is consistent with their more libertarian views.
Within days, the wealthy Republicans sent back word: they were on board. Each of them cut six-figure cheques to the lobbying campaign that eventually totalled more than $US1 million ($952,000).
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