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‘Can You Stop Interrupting?’ ‘Can You Stop Lying?’ Cuomo and Nixon Spar in Debate ‘Can You Stop Interrupting?’ ‘Can You Stop Lying?’ Cuomo and Nixon Spar in Debate
(35 minutes later)
HEMPSTEAD — After months of shadowboxing from afar, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon clashed up close in a heated debate on Wednesday that featured sharp attacks, flashes of frustration and two competing Democratic visions for New York. HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — After months of shadowboxing from afar, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon clashed up close in a heated debate on Wednesday that featured sharp attacks, flashes of frustration and two competing Democratic visions for New York.
They fought over standing up to President Trump, marijuana, releasing tax returns, health care policy and past corruption convictions in the Cuomo administration. For much of the hour, they jabbed and counterpunched, talking over each other repeatedly and accusing each other of distortions, as Mr. Cuomo said Ms. Nixon lives in “the world of fiction.”They fought over standing up to President Trump, marijuana, releasing tax returns, health care policy and past corruption convictions in the Cuomo administration. For much of the hour, they jabbed and counterpunched, talking over each other repeatedly and accusing each other of distortions, as Mr. Cuomo said Ms. Nixon lives in “the world of fiction.”
“Can you stop interrupting?” Mr. Cuomo said to her at one point.“Can you stop interrupting?” Mr. Cuomo said to her at one point.
“Can you stop lying?” Ms. Nixon snapped back.“Can you stop lying?” Ms. Nixon snapped back.
The debate offered Ms. Nixon, the actress and activist undertaking a long-shot challenge against a two-term incumbent, her biggest stage yet in the race, and she used the spotlight to rip Mr. Cuomo as a “corrupt corporate Democrat” while promising an array of progressive policies she said he had bottled up in the last seven years.The debate offered Ms. Nixon, the actress and activist undertaking a long-shot challenge against a two-term incumbent, her biggest stage yet in the race, and she used the spotlight to rip Mr. Cuomo as a “corrupt corporate Democrat” while promising an array of progressive policies she said he had bottled up in the last seven years.
“I’m not an Albany insider like Governor Cuomo, but experience doesn’t mean that much if you’re not actually good at governing,” she accused.“I’m not an Albany insider like Governor Cuomo, but experience doesn’t mean that much if you’re not actually good at governing,” she accused.
Mr. Cuomo sought to raise doubts about Ms. Nixon’s qualifications — she has never held elected office — to serve and succeed as governor.Mr. Cuomo sought to raise doubts about Ms. Nixon’s qualifications — she has never held elected office — to serve and succeed as governor.
“That’s the art of government. I can get it done,” he said at one point. At another, he told Ms. Nixon that “you don’t snap your fingers” and simply make things happen.“That’s the art of government. I can get it done,” he said at one point. At another, he told Ms. Nixon that “you don’t snap your fingers” and simply make things happen.
Mr. Cuomo was determined to portray himself as a bulwark against Mr. Trump and repeatedly highlighted steps he’s taken as governor to push back against White House initiatives.Mr. Cuomo was determined to portray himself as a bulwark against Mr. Trump and repeatedly highlighted steps he’s taken as governor to push back against White House initiatives.
“Know me by my enemies,” Mr. Cuomo said, pointing to the president’s Twitter posts about him. The president has mocked Mr. Cuomo’s remark that America “was never that great,” which Mr. Cuomo later revised.“Know me by my enemies,” Mr. Cuomo said, pointing to the president’s Twitter posts about him. The president has mocked Mr. Cuomo’s remark that America “was never that great,” which Mr. Cuomo later revised.
“No one has stood up to Donald Trump the way I have,” Mr. Cuomo said.“No one has stood up to Donald Trump the way I have,” Mr. Cuomo said.
Ms. Nixon dismissed that idea entirely, quipping, “You stood up to him about as well as he stood up to Putin.”Ms. Nixon dismissed that idea entirely, quipping, “You stood up to him about as well as he stood up to Putin.”
Notably, Mr. Cuomo categorically ruled out running for president in 2020, despite talk that he might be interested in a national bid.Notably, Mr. Cuomo categorically ruled out running for president in 2020, despite talk that he might be interested in a national bid.
“The only caveat is if God strikes me dead,” Mr. Cuomo said of not serving a full third term as governor.“The only caveat is if God strikes me dead,” Mr. Cuomo said of not serving a full third term as governor.
The attacks began hours before the two candidates took the stage, with Ms. Nixon releasing a video comparing Mr. Cuomo to President Trump, and Mr. Cuomo packaging old clips of Ms. Nixon praising him.The attacks began hours before the two candidates took the stage, with Ms. Nixon releasing a video comparing Mr. Cuomo to President Trump, and Mr. Cuomo packaging old clips of Ms. Nixon praising him.
There are just two weeks remaining in the race before an unusual Thursday election, on Sept. 13, that has both camps racing to determine who will turn out. New York is the only state in the nation this year to hold two primaries — one for federal races, and one for state and local contests — adding to the turnout X-factor.There are just two weeks remaining in the race before an unusual Thursday election, on Sept. 13, that has both camps racing to determine who will turn out. New York is the only state in the nation this year to hold two primaries — one for federal races, and one for state and local contests — adding to the turnout X-factor.
Polls have shown Ms. Nixon trailing badly, but her team believes they do not reflect the real political climate among Democratic voters, pointing to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s shocking defeat of Representative Joseph Crowley in New York City in June and, more recently, the nomination of Andrew Gillum, who ran as an unabashed progressive, for governor of Florida on Tuesday.Polls have shown Ms. Nixon trailing badly, but her team believes they do not reflect the real political climate among Democratic voters, pointing to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s shocking defeat of Representative Joseph Crowley in New York City in June and, more recently, the nomination of Andrew Gillum, who ran as an unabashed progressive, for governor of Florida on Tuesday.
Mr. Cuomo has been bombarding the airwaves with television ads from a war chest that at one point topped out above $30 million; Ms. Nixon, with only $440,000 in her account as of the most recent report, had not aired any.Mr. Cuomo has been bombarding the airwaves with television ads from a war chest that at one point topped out above $30 million; Ms. Nixon, with only $440,000 in her account as of the most recent report, had not aired any.
The debate was the first and only time that both candidates will appear together. They debated at Hofstra University, in the same arena where months ago Mr. Cuomo formally won the backing of the state Democratic Party, which he functionally controls. The debate was the first and only time that both candidates will appear together. They debated at Hofstra University on Long Island, in the same arena where months ago Mr. Cuomo formally won the backing of the state Democratic Party, which he functionally controls.
The two camps had sparred about the debate conditions as Ms. Nixon’s camp was presented with the terms — a 60-minute, seated debate with no opening or closing statements before an audience of 150 — after they had been prenegotiated with Mr. Cuomo’s team. In recent days, her team pushed for a warmer debate hall, as the governor is known to prefer speaking in chilly conditions.The two camps had sparred about the debate conditions as Ms. Nixon’s camp was presented with the terms — a 60-minute, seated debate with no opening or closing statements before an audience of 150 — after they had been prenegotiated with Mr. Cuomo’s team. In recent days, her team pushed for a warmer debate hall, as the governor is known to prefer speaking in chilly conditions.
The debate was sponsored by WCBS-TV. Maurice DuBois, a WCBS-TV anchor, and Marcia Kramer, the station’s political correspondent, served as moderators.The debate was sponsored by WCBS-TV. Maurice DuBois, a WCBS-TV anchor, and Marcia Kramer, the station’s political correspondent, served as moderators.