For years, Governor Andrew Cuomo studiously avoided building a national profile and the accusation that he has his eyes set on the presidency.

Being governor of New York, he has said in so many words, is his dream job. He rarely traveled out of the state, and when he did it was a quick few hours on the ground -- even if that ground was in Israel or Cuba -- and then back home again.

But now Cuomo has taken a national spotlight during the coronavirus pandemic. His daily briefings, while New York-centric, have reached a national audience and his favorability rating is its highest in eight years.

His prominence has spawned fandom on social media -- usually not a friendly platform for him -- with hashtags like "#PresidentCuomo" trending.

President Donald Trump has taken notice and, with some mischief making perhaps, suggested Cuomo would be a better Democratic presidential contender than former Vice President Joe Biden.

Cuomo, a Biden supporter since the start of the presidential campaign season, has denied he's interested in taking the spot -- especially now.

"I am not here to engage the president in politics," Cuomo said during the question-and-answer portion of his briefing on Monday. "I am here to engage the president in partnership."

Cuomo went further when interviewed on CNN by his brother Chris Cuomo later that evening.

He answered "no" repeatedly when asked if he wants to be president or is considering it, while also praising Biden.

"The experience, the wisdom, the capacity to do the job," he said. "Not just think about it, not just talk about it, not just tweet about it - do the job. And Joe Biden is a guy who does the job for real Americans. We grew up, we're middle class New Yorkers. We relate to him that way. He relates to people all across the country that way. His sense of connectivity, his sense of capacity, you put all that together and he's the real deal."