In a last push to win over voters before the November 4 election, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa squared off on Wednesday in the final debate of the mayoral race in New York City.
However, their attacks on one another and their defenses were mostly along predictable lines, as their precedents, including that of Israel’s and President Donald Trump’s war against Gaza, predominated in their clash at LaGuardia Community College in Queens.
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After claiming a surprise victory in the June primary on a platform of affordability, Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, maintains a sizable lead in the polls, partially offset by higher taxes that favor the wealthy.
Cuomo has repeatedly criticised Mamdani’s promises, most of which would require the approval of state lawmakers, and has repeatedly criticized the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist for having no prior experience in government. Since Eric Adams, the current mayor, left, only Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliva remain in the race, which has narrowed.
What were the key lessons learned from the discussion?
Future versus experience
Cuomo and Mamdani drew attention to the themes that had shaped the race’s final stretch as the night rolled around.
Cuomo referred to himself as the “can get it done, not just talk about it.”
He has never managed or run anything. He compared Mamdani to saying that he has never had a real job.
Mamdani described himself as the “sole candidate running with a vision for the city’s future.”
He is a “desperate man” who has been criticizing Cuomo because he is aware that his one true love, power, is now slipping away.
Sliwa later addressed both of his rivals in a critical tone, saying, “Zohran, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin, and Andrew, your failures could fill a New York City public school library.”
Trump’s opposition
The New York City mayoral race has had a significant impact on the US president. Immigration agents descended on Manhattan’s Chinatown on Tuesday, escalating federal enforcement efforts in the nation’s largest city, and the debate broke out hours later.
If Mamdani is elected, Trump has pledged to use the National Guard and reduce federal funding for the city. Trump and Cuomo have a lot of the same donors, but they both have a reputation for making threats that hurt the city from a win.
Trump has said that he will take over New York if Mamdani wins because he doesn’t value him. Trump [thinks he’s a kid, and he’s going to knock Mamma on his tuchus,” Cuomo said.
Trump’s dream is for him to win over Mamdani because he will use him politically throughout our nation and take over New York City, he said. Make no mistake, both the mayor and the president will be in charge.
Cuomo was Mamdani’s version of Donald Trump.
Donald Trump said, “He wants Andrew Cuomo to be mayor, not because it will be good for New Yorkers, but because it will be good for him,” and that “any day of the week you can hear him tell you that.”
Palestine’s support once more is significant.
Mamdani was once more questioned about his unwavering support for Palestinian rights, which Cuomo repeatedly and blatantly denounced as anti-Semitic.
Mamdani claimed that he would be the mayor of New York City who celebrates and values Jewish people more than just protecting them. He claimed that Cuomo was “scoreing political points” by making false anti-Semitism claims.
Cuomo claimed that he was “ignoring the hatred against Jews.”
Sliwa falsely accused Mamdani of supporting “global jihad.”
I responded, “It is not something I have said, and it continues to be attributed to me,” and “quite frankly, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the verge of winning this election.”
Mamdani announces the selection of a police commissioner
In addition, the leading candidate made a statement during the debate, saying he would ask Jessica Tisch, the current police commissioner, to keep her post if elected.
Some of Mamdani’s supporters may find that to be unfavorable because they believe the police chief, who is currently Mayor Adams, is out of step with the promised police reforms.
Tisch, whose wealthy family is worth billions, has advocated for more “quality of life” enforcement, which according to critics disproportionately harms minority communities. She has also pushed for stricter enforcement of some criminal laws.
Cuomo was questioned about sexual assault.
Cuomo’s opponents repeatedly questioned him about allegations of sexual misconduct from his staff, which led him to resign as governor of New York in early 2021.
Later, state attorney general investigation revealed that Cuomo had “sexually harassed a number of New York State employees, both current and former.”
Cuomo claims that the cases have been settled “legally,” but litigation persists in some cases.
Mamdani made the revelation that Charlotte Bennett, who Cuomo is currently suing for defamation, was one of the accusers during the discussion.
What do you tell the 13 women who you sexually harmed? Cuomo asked him.
Source: Aljazeera
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