Zephyr Teachout in 2014 New York Governor's race

On Abortion: Abortion rights are part of women's equality

This failure is a betrayal of both New York State and New York women, said Teachout. When New York State legalized abortion in 1970, three years before Roe v Wade, it paved the way for a national right to abortion, she said. New York's historic role as a women's rights stalwart has made it a haven for women from states where their reproductive rights are under assault, Teachout said.

On Gun Control: Supports tougher gun control laws

Teachout did support Cuomo work toward reducing the state prison population and getting state lawmakers to adopt tougher gun-control laws. However, she said, changes that appear to broaden medical marijuana laws are misleading. "In the most recent medical marijuana bill, the new rules are you can use a vaporizer," she said. "But if you're not using a vaporizer, it's still illegal."

On Local Issues: Dirty money is funding the Tappan Zee Bridge construction

Teachout said she considers Cuomo's decision to use state Clean Water Fund money for construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge to be stealing from an account intended to help local communities with infrastructure projects. "That is dirty money funding the Tappan Zee Bridge," she said.

Teachout said voters need to end the system of "third-rate politics that we have now that is weighed down by corruption in Albany--or, to put it another way, weighed down by three men in a room [the governor and the leaders of the state Senate and Assembly]. The best way to break up three men in a room and the old boys of Albany is to add a woman to the mix."

On Civil Rights: Endorsed by LGBT organizations; received at Gay Pride parade

Meanwhile, two other local clubs have already endorsed Teachout--Coalition for a District Alternative, the leading East Village political club, and the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, a gay organization. "At Gay Pride, she was very well received," [one Teachout staffer] added. "She was slapping five and taking pictures with people the whole route."

"While we recognize the governor's role in achieving marriage equality, we are not a single-issue organization," a [progressive Democratic club member] said. "We expect a sizable portion of the LGBT establishment and political organizations will endorse Cuomo. We believe, however, that the community is to the left of these organizations."

On Education: Cuomo has completely abandoned schools

Zephyr Teachout hit Cuomo on education, charging that he has "completely abandoned schools."

Teachout said, by necessity, she'll keep her public message simpler, sticking to three main themes: anti-corruption, education and the economy. She expects her media coverage will be limited, so plans to streamline her sound bites.

While many Downtowners detest charter schools, [a Harlem legislator ] said the main problem, for him, isn't charters per se, but co-locating them in buildings with regular public schools. "Co-locations have torn at the fabric of my community. I'm not against charters. But co-locations are horrible." And, in fact, many inner-city families see charters as a pathway to a better life for their children.

On Energy & Oil: Sun, solar and wind, not fracking

Zephyr Teachout hammered Cuomo on fracking, saying she hopes that during the campaign he will "feel pressure" to announce a ban on the hotly debated drilling technique. The governor, she declared, should "commit to protecting our state from poison, and commit to sustainable energy--sun, solar and wind--that would not only create a sustainable state, but also create jobs.

"It is embarrassing that New York is not leading on this," she said of sustainable energy. "It is the governor and his interest in himself and his big donors that is keeping us from doing that."

[A Democratic club member noted] we still don't know where Cuomo will come down on fracking.

On Health Care: I am committed to single-payer

On Corporations: Apply anti-trust rules to corporate political power

On Education: The public school system has been robbed

Teachout has reserved her harshest words for Cuomo's cuts to public education. "[The New York public school system] has been robbed," she said. "Cuomo started his governorship proposing the largest cut to education funding in state history. You can't have public education without art and music and counseling, all the things a kid needs to become a person, not this little widget."

On Government Reform: Build political system where wealthy donors aren't in charge

Catering to wealthy donors is exactly what the Cuomo administration is guilty of, said Teachout, who thinks that Cuomo's "inconsistent" combination of progressive social policy and trickle-down economics is due to the sway of his donors.

"The only way to make sense of some of his policies--tax breaks for big banks that aren't going anywhere--is to look at his donors," she said, adding that Cuomo's support for public financing of elections is "his favorite broken promise."

Teachout said she sees general political culture as the dog that wags the tail of individual cases of corruption, which is why for her campaign finance reform is paramount. She testified before the anti-corruption Moreland Commission, "Historically, culture-changing rules have proven to be more powerful at eliminating corruption."

On Principles & Values: Political icons: Teddy Roosevelt & Louis Brandeis

When asked about her influences, she eschews more recent icons like John F. Kennedy or Lyndon B. Johnson in favor of early 20th century figures like Teddy Roosevelt, Louis Brandeis, and William Jennings Bryan.

"These are people who, trapped in one circumstance managed to organize and create a new one; it gives you an extraordinary sense of possibility, understanding that the world can be better, can be different," Teachout said in a phone interview.

Teachout, a law professor at Fordham University, is running in the Democratic primary in September against the incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Her campaign platform promises more spending on education and infrastructure, but it's her tough stance on corruption and corporate power that is most salient.

On Education: Stop looting public school system to serve wealthy interests

Teachout was a virtual unknown until she emerged late last month as contender for the WFP's gubernatorial nomination. A former organizer for Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign, Teachout quickly gained favor among the party's hard core liberal activists, many of whom believe Cuomo's policies have gone too far in favoring businesses and the wealthy.

Shrugging off Cuomo's strong standing in the polls and his immense fundraising advantage, Teachout vowed to run an energetic campaign and expressed confidence that she would not lack the financial resources to win. "It is going to be great summer of Democracy--a 3-month summer of Democracy," Teachout said.

On Government Reform: Political system is still corrupt and rigged for the wealthy

"Four years ago, Andrew Cuomo stood on the steps of a courthouse named after Boss Tweed and promised to clean up corruption in New York State," Teachout said. "But he, as Governor Cuomo, has become the problem that candidate Cuomo promised to fix. The political system is still corrupt and rigged and Andrew Cuomo is not only part of the broken system, he has made it worse."

Teachout repeatedly portrayed Cuomo as a politician who has failed to address the state's "equality crisis" and one who acted only to further his own political interests and those of his financial donors. "He has never done anything that would irritate his wealthy donors," Teachout said. "What I see is somebody who serves himself and his donors. And that is the most basic Democratic crime in a sense."

On Immigration: Honor the dignity of all immigrants

Teachout said that in a state that typically focuses on "honoring the dignity of all immigrants" she is "disappointed" in Hochul. She described Hochul as someone "who has not traditionally been a friend of immigrant communities."