Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the current “schism” in the state Republican party is a smaller version of the split causing so much damage in Washington, D.C., and that “conservative Republicans … have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are.”

In conversation with Susan Arbetter on “The Capitol Pressroom” Friday morning, Cuomo said:

You have a schism within the Republican Party. … They’re searching to define their soul, that’s what’s going on. Is the Republican party in this state a moderate party or is it an extreme conservative party? That’s what they’re trying to figure out. It’s a mirror of what’s going on in Washington. The gridlock in Washington is less about Democrats and Republicans. It’s more about extreme Republicans versus moderate Republicans. … You’re seeing that play out in New York. … The Republican Party candidates are running against the SAFE Act — it was voted for by moderate Republicans who run the Senate! Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are. If they’re moderate Republicans like in the Senate right now, who control the Senate — moderate Republicans have a place in their state. George Pataki was governor of this state as a moderate Republican; but not what you’re hearing from them on the far right.”

The governor’s suggestion that, for example, those who hold anti-abortion views have no place in the state prompted Dennis Poust, spokesman for the state Catholic Conference, to observe on Twitter, “My governor thinks there’s no place in NY for people like me. Can I get a state grant to relocate?” (And where to — New Hampshire, maybe?)

Cuomo also defended his immense campaign haul of more than $33 million.

“Somebody can come in with personal wealth and just win the office because they can outspend you,” before alluding to Donald Trump’s boast that he could pour up to $200 million into a gubernatorial run: “You see some of the names brag about (how) they have unlimited wealth and can spend anything and could dwarf my spending, significant as my fundraising has been … and they’re proud about it, or they have family money, or daddy gives them money or whatever the case may be.

” … And I need to be in a position where I can explain to the people of the state what we’ve done and what we plan to do, and that’s why we raised the money in the campaign.”

If you were waiting for a full-throated reiteration of the governor’s call for public financing of campaigns, he eventually got there, but mainly as “a matter of appearance.”

“I think a lot of this conversation is baloney, frankly,” he said of concern over the wealth of many of his donors, insisting that the real question was one of character.

“Some politicians out there can be bought for $10, and some politicians can’t be bought for $10 billion, you know? It’s a question about the person,” he said. ” … It’s not how much does it cost to buy a politician, it’s that a politician can be bought.” (Which is, as Newsday’s Yancey Roy noted on Twitter as the interview was going on, very similar to arguments that opponents of public financing have been making.)

Cuomo said his ultimate test was whether or not he could sleep well at night.

“I believe in my heart and I believe the people of this state believe that — forget the money and the campaign contributions and what people give — I’m going to do what I believe is right for them, I’m going to make the decision that I’m proud of,” he said.