When Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman started weighing a run for governor late last year, he wanted to run it by a longtime friend. Blakeman called President Donald Trump on his cell and made his pitch for why he should be the GOP’s pick to take on Democratic Gov. Hochul. Trump listened as Blakeman made the case that he had just handily won reelection in Nassau, and had been fielding calls from other state Republicans urging him to run for governor. “I told him that I was contemplating running, and he said to me: ‘Well, do what you feel is in your heart,' ” Blakeman said. Read the full story at the link in bio. (Photo: Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker) . . . #longisland #longislandny #nassaucounty #suffolkcounty #newyork