Andrew Cuomo will bestow his first in-person endorsement of a Senate Democrat this morning, traveling to Patchogue, Long Island to announce his support for freshman Sen. Brian Foley, who is facing a stiff challenge from Republican Lee Zeldin.

The press advisory reads as follows:

“Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will join over 100 women to endorse Brian Foley for New York State Senate. The committee, ‘Women for Foley’ includes women small business owners, domestic violence advocates, union members, working mothers, students and breast cancer survivors.”

“Saturday’s event is the kick off rally for the committee’s campaign efforts. Foley’s opponent, Tea Party supported Republican candidate Lee Zeldin, has said he wants to abolish a woman’s right to choose.”

“A zealous supporter of the right-wing Republican agenda, Zeldin is aligned with gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino who has taken the extreme stance of being anti choice, even in the case of rape or incest.”

“He also strongly supports repealing the historic national healthcare initiative which would abolish many women’s health programs. Unlike his opponent, Brian Foley has been a leader in advocating for women’s health issues and supports a woman’s right to choose.”

As we’ve noted countless times before, abortion rights has become a central focus this campaign season in several statewide races (governor and state attorney general). Apparently the Democrats’ effort to use choice as a means to cast their GOP opponents as too extreme for New York extends to legislative contests, too.

Cuomo has stepped up his involvement with his Democratic ticket-mates of late and also decided to become more involved in his party’s push to retain control of the Senate majority – a quest that insiders say could prove difficult, even with the Democrats’ considerable leads in both fundraising and enrollment.

In 2008, Foley ousted veteran GOP Sen. Caesar Trunzo to help the Democrats win their slim, two-seat majority for the first time in some four decades. His addition grew the Democratic Long Island conference to two members (the other is Sen. Craig Johnson).

But Foley has been under siege pretty much ever since, and votes he was forced to take due to the Democrats’ tenuous grip on the chamber – particularly on the MTA payroll tax, which is very unpopular in the suburbs – have left him vulnerable.

Democratic insiders have privately expressed concern Foley’s seat may already be lost, looking to make up the difference in sleeper races in the Hudson Valley and Western NY. But a nod from Cuomo, whose popularity is very high, might be worth a few precious percentage points for the senator come Election Day.

UPDATE: Cuomo is also endorsing Assemblywoman Janele Heyer-Spencer today on Staten Island. This is his third endorsement of an Assembly candidate.

During the primary, he backed two candidates in his native Queens: Francisco Moya against ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate and Ed Braunstein (a former aide to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and nephew of Albany lobbyist brian Meara).

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