“I love you, little brother.”

With that terse but powerful declaration, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed his status as the crisis leader in North America. Frank admission of emotional vulnerability takes guts for most men, even in private.

But in public, day after day, the 62-year-old, tough, often abrasive and far from universally loved three-term governor has offered hope, emotional candour and tough truths about the reality facing his citizens. From the beginning he has demonstrated confidence, a total grasp on the facts and new data, delivered clearly — and, occasionally, with a dry sense of humour.

His pledge of love to Chris Cuomo, the famed CNN host, who had contracted the coronavirus the day before, would have seemed unheard of for a hardened old political pro to offer on national television a month ago. He praised his “little brother” for doing his regular night time show from his own basement.

The following day a clearly feverish Chris Cuomo appeared at his brother’s briefing by video. The governor offered his praise for his brother’s courage in being willing to appear, and thanked him for helping to “demystify” the horror of the disease.

“Pop would have been very proud of you,” he said earlier. Pop was another iconic New York governor, their father Mario Cuomo.

The governor described his deep fear at receiving the news. “I was, I am, frightened.” He added he knows more deeply now what it feels like “for all our people, all our families in this situation, where no one, no one, is protected.” Later he described every COVID-19 death as a failure, and personally wounding and painful. “It will change me …”

Cuomo’s stunning performances reportedly enraged Donald Trump who stormed angrily at his staff that Cuomo was criticizing him for Washington’s failures to New York. He challenged Cuomo to run against him if he wanted a fight. Cuomo flicked him off saying that the president should understand that this is a not a moment for political games; adding that he would, and had, congratulated Trump when he did well by New York, but he would continue to push him publicly when he failed.

Anonymous insiders say Trump was actually more enraged at Cuomo’s far higher popularity and five star reviews. Interestingly, by last week Trump had pivoted to Cuomo’s style — more serious, more fact based, and less demented ranting. The man who had compared COVID-19 to the flu, called it a hoax, and said it would magically disappear by Easter, was now sombrely predicting the epidemic would take months to defeat and restrictions would continue until at least May. Given his erratic history it is not clear that he can stick to his new more presidential style, or whether voters will soon forget the usual Trump.

In Canada, most of our leaders have performed coolly and well, though there have reportedly been some rather heated conversations between premiers and the prime minister behind the scenes. Premier François Legault has won an almost unbelievable level of popularity — over 90 per cent in some surveys. Justin Trudeau’s performance remains solid and reassuring, though a little less formally scripted performance would serve him better. Chrystia Freeland is also reportedly performing her COO role seamlessly.

Teaching crisis leadership is hard. Some of its qualities come from the soul and character of the candidate, the product of genes and a lifetime of hard choices. They can never be taught. It’s also hard to dissect the elements of success, because it is the package that is compelling: confidence, honesty, authenticity, and a willingness to admit fear and the unknown and unknowable.

For many politicians simply admitting weakness, fear or ignorance are unforgivable foolishnesses — in a crisis they anoint you as serious and authentic. Watching Andrew Cuomo’s month of daily, hour-long masterclasses would probably be hard for the best teacher to beat.

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Next we will need to pivot to recovery and rebuilding. New York, like every other jurisdiction is tens of billions of dollars in the hole. The trust and confidence of our leaders’ performance in these dark days is what will give them the credibility to propose difficult changes in response to the looming economic crisis.

At a time when it is a cliché to bemoan the lack of serious political leadership anywhere, Cuomo’s potent combination of power, empathy, and impressive competence is proof that the qualities of earlier wartime leaders does prevail.

RS Robin V. Sears is a principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group and was an NDP strategist for 20 years. He is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: is a principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group and was an NDP strategist for 20 years. He is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robinvsears

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