Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is giving Rob Astorino some help in his bid to defeat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Romney wrote a recent fundraising appeal for Astorino in which the former Massachusetts governor calls Cuomo “a typical corrupt New York politician.”

Romney also criticizes New York’s high taxes and business climate and notes Astorino was twice elected county executive in heavily Democratic Westchester County.

Other prominent Republicans backing Astorino include Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.

It’s unclear how much the endorsements help in heavily Democratic New York, where nearly two-thirds of voters picked President Barack Obama over Romney in 2012.

Polls give Cuomo a big lead over Astorino.

There was no immediate comment from the Cuomo campaig.

(AP)