stuck in second place<\/u><\/a> in polls, and even with Mayor Eric Adams suspending his campaign, the ex-governor has not been able to surpass the frontrunning Democratic nominee.<\/p>\nThe debate underscored the key problem facing Cuomo who\u2019s running as an independent after losing in an upset to Mamdani in June. In his long career, Cuomo has never successfully run a campaign as the underdog. His sole electoral loss came 23 years ago against Carl McCall. Every election since, Cuomo was the clear favorite.<\/p>\n
Cuomo spoke from the podium with a dry recitation of facts. Mamdani appeared well prepared for the ex-governor\u2019s attacks, many of which \u2014 like the Queens assemblymember\u2019s past criticism of Barack Obama \u2014 was recycled from the primary campaign. That criticism didn\u2019t work then, and it isn\u2019t clear why Cuomo would think it could work now in a general election.<\/p>\n
Curtis talked up Trump<\/h4>\n<\/h4>\n
One of the quirks of this race is the candidate with the deepest experience with President Donald Trump is Cuomo, who has known him for decades. Mamdani has never met the president. Sliwa, the Republican nominee, has the most strained relationship.<\/p>\n
Trump has scoffed at his party\u2019s candidate to lead his hometown as not ready for primetime. The president derisively noted that Sliwa lives with a lot of cats in a small apartment.<\/p>\n
Yet it was Sliwa who pledged to have a working relationship with the president, who has tried to exert his will over this deep blue city. The Guardian Angels founder said it wouldn\u2019t be productive to work against Trump or try to be a tough guy with the president.<\/p>\n
This stance serves multiple purposes. Cuomo is trying to steal Sliwa\u2019s Republican supporters, and Sliwa needs MAGA New Yorkers to stay in the fold. Sliwa also likely knows Cuomo and Mamdani won\u2019t go out on a similar limb since they can\u2019t afford to lose Democratic voters who loathe Trump.<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re explaining \u2026<\/h4>\n<\/h4>\n
The former governor spent much of the evening explaining. And explaining. And explaining some more.<\/p>\n
Cuomo had to parry attacks on his decade-long record as the state\u2019s chief executive when it came to funding for homeless people and mental health programs. He repeatedly pushed back when Mamdani or Sliwa referenced the sexual harassment scandal that drove him from office, once again denying any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
Those digressions cost him precious time to prosecute the case against Mamdani.<\/p>\n