Cuomo, Molinaro trade shots during testy one-on-one gubernatorial debate

Oct. 23--Gov. Cuomo and Republican challenger Marc Molinaro squared off in a heated one-on-one debate Tuesday afternoon that focused on issues of corruption, taxes and President Trump.

The one-hour WCBS debate, expected to be the only one between the two, at times got ugly as both men frequently interrupted and attacked each other and made it difficult for the moderators to get a word in.

For Molniaro, who headed into the final weeks of the campaign with less than $211,000 on hand, the debate represented his best chance to not only get his message out to voters but to land a damaging blow against an incumbent with $9.2 million in the bank and who polls show leading by more than 20-points.

But Cuomo came out aggressively, often interrupting and doing his best to tie his GOP challenger to President Trump, who polls show is unpopular in his native New York.

"You've interrupted me every time I've spoken," a clearly frustrated Molinaro said..

At one point, as Molinaro sought to answer a question, Cuomo asked four straight times if he supports Trump. Molinaro did not answer.

Molinaro, as Democrat Cynthia Nixon did during her one and only Democratic primary debate with Cuiomo in August, tried to hit him on the issue of ethics by accusing the governor of having "led the most corrupt state in America."

He referenced the corruption convictions of long-time Cuomo aide and convicted confidante Joseph Percoco, as well as other aides and associates. He also hit Cuomo for shutting down a commission investigating state government corruption as it began to look into those close to the governor.

"At which point after eight years in office will you take responsibility?" Molinaro .

Cuomo shot back: "This isn't about Joe Percoco, it's about you and me."

The governor acknowledged that "people in my administration made a mistake" and are going to prison. But he said Molinaro is in no position to point fingers while alluding to the fact that the Dutchess County executive's wife had accepted a job from a donor that had county contracts.

In addition to repeatedly bringing up Trump, Cuomo tried several times to tie Molinaro to George Pataki, New York's last Republican governor.

"I'm not George Pataki," an exasperated Molinaro said. "You seem to be obsessed with him."

After the governor referred to Molinaro for the first time as "an acolyte of Donald Trump, a mini-me of Donald Trump who is decimating health care in this state," the Republican sniffed: "I'm surprised it took him so long to get there."

Molinaro, who has said he did not vote for Trump, noted that Cuomo over the years accepted $60,000 from the developer that he has not returned and even had him at his bachelor party. In reality, the future President didn't attend the event, but sent a video clip.

Molinaro hit Cuomo on his handling of the subway crisis and criticized Cuomo for not speaking out against the Parole Board release of cop killer Herman Bell, though Cuomo said he did speak out against the decision. He also has said the Parole Board is an independent body.

Molinaro also knocked him for signing an executive order issuing conditional pardons that gave thousands of parolees the right to vote, including convicted sex offenders at school polling places.

"They have been released," Cuomo said. "We're now trying to reintegrate them into society."

After Molinaro came out against universal health care in New York, saying it would be too costly, Cuomo charged that "he's with Mr. Trump. There should only be health care for rich people."

Molinaro responded by noting that he grew up at times on food stamps so it's not fair for Cuomo to suggest he doesn't know what it's like to be poor.

During a discussion on education funding, Cuomo interrupted Molinaro to suggest "the extreme conservative wing that Mr. Molinaro and Mr. Trump represent exclude everyone."

He went on to say how Molinaro as a state assemblyman voted against a bill to outlaw the shackling of pregnant female prison inmates who are in labor.

On the issue of abortion, Molinaro, who is against it, said he believes it's settled law in New York and "I will absolutely defend it."

Cuomo, who is pro abortion rights, said "you are wrong when you say that Roe v. Wade is settled law."

Molinaro did say he opposes Trump's plan to roll back rights for those who are transgender.

"I don't support rolling back protections for individuals regardless of their sexual identity," he said.

One area the two actually agreed was on the issue of charter schools and school choice, which both support.

Cuomo said he would sit and discuss the issue with political nemesis Mayor de Blasio, a foe of charters.

"I will sit down and we will have a bottle of wine, the mayor and I ," Cuomo said. "We're gonna break bread we're gonna have a plate of pasta."

The debate was taped in the afternoon and was scheduled to be played on radio and television across the state in the evening.

Three minor party candidates--former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner of the newly created Serve America Movement line, Howie Hawkins of the Green Party, and Larry Sharpe of the Libertarian Party--were not asked to participate.

The three along with Molinaro have agreed to appear at a Nov. 1 candidates forum in Albany sponsored by the state League of Women Voters. Cuomo has not committed to attending.

Molinaro has also called for two more debates with Cuomo to focus on upstate issues.

Cuomo debated actress Cynthia Nixon one time before the September democratic primary. This is the first time as governor he has debated a Republicans without the minor party candidates also on the stage.

* Marc Molinaro

* Andrew Cuomo

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