[x]

With the exception of his ill-fated endorsement of Mario Cuomo over George Pataki, Rudy has not made a practice of attacking his own party, a fact that sets him quite apart from many other moderate/liberal Northeastern Republicans.

Ouch! That's a pretty big exception. How many mayors endorse governors from the opposing party? Pataki probably doesn't have very many conservative fans, but having supported Cuomo has to hurt Rudy.

[areafiftyone]

Pataki probably doesn't have very many conservative fans, but having supported Cuomo has to hurt Rudy.

Actually it didn't. Rudy endorsed Wacki Pataki for his other two terms. And Pataki was quite happy with that.

[A Longer Name]

How many mayors endorse governors from the opposing party?

It was a practical consideration as everyone understood at the time. No one thought Pataki would win in '94: he was trailing by double-digits up to the night before the Election. Good mayors don't make enemies of governors if their cities depend on the state goverment's goodwill.