Republican candidate for Comptroller John Burnett is virtually unknown, he’s a ‘Republican’ in a Democratic stronghold and therefore considered a long-shot in his race against Democratic nominee Scott Stringer. But that didn’t prevent him from landing punches at his opponent, one after another, at the first TV debate of the general election season.

“You’ve been in politics for 25 years and you owe a ton of favors. I’m surprised you still even have your own soul,” Mr. Burnett said with a smirk. “Maybe I shouldn’t be presumptuous. Maybe you actually sold that off a long time ago.”

He also knocked Mr. Stringer for missing a city pension fund board meetings, as trustee. “You just don’t show up,” Mr. Burnett said. “You’re a failure.”

While Mr. Stringer played up his party affiliation and political credentials, Mr. Burnett, the only black male candidate for a top citywide job, contrasted his 23 years of experience in financial services with Stringer’s career in politics.

“At the end of the day, people will focus on who is experienced and who is a political hack,” Burnett said.

But Mr. Stringer didn’t let that argument stick. He often remind voters of Burnett’s party affiliation.

“As the Republican candidate, what do you say to the people of New York City today that your party is shutting down the government and trying to put urban America out of business?” Stringer asked. “Especially our city, where the hardship would be devastating.”

“My opponent’s trying to lump me in the same bucket as all Republicans,” the Republican charismatic candidate shot back. “That’s like me saying that he goes around taking pictures and tweeting his private parts because Anthony Weiner did it. That’s like saying that he goes around with hookers because some other Democrat did it.”

Speaking to reporters following the debate, Mr. Burnett said his punches were not part of a strategy to increase his name recognition.

“What you saw in there really didn’t have anything to do with strategy. I would have done the same thing if I would have met him on the street and we were at a bar having a discussion about the shutdown [or] pension funds,” Burnett said. “It would have been the same type of heated and spirited debate.”

The two will meet in another debate if Burnett reaches poll numbers of at least 10 percent, NY1 noted. So far, no polls have been conducted.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)