Joe Lhota and Adolfo Carrion introduced themselves to voters, last night, in an hour long TV debate with the absence of the frontrunner, Democratic mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio.

In addition to fielding questions on stop-and-frisk, transportation policies and various controversial elements of their pasts, Both candidates used the opportunity to direct attacks at the person who was missing on stage.

“Bill, on many, many issues, is an extremist, and it needs to come out, and it needs to be known,” Mr. Lhota said.

“Every time Bill talks about the tale of two cities, he doesn’t give any solutions other than helping secure the safety net,” Mr. Lhota said. “The safety net is extremely important for those who are in poverty and those who are little bit above poverty, but we need to make sure that we not only keep that net, but we also need to give them jobs.”

“I’m sorry that Mr. de Blasio decided that he’s going to take the rose garden strategy and not make any mistakes,” Mr. Carrion said.

Mr. Lhota also drew a line between Mr. de Blasio’s support of the Sandinista cause in Nicaragua in the ’80s to his own youthful support for Barry Goldwater.

“Look, what I liked about Barry Goldwater was the fact that he spoke his mind, he wanted everybody to know where he stands (and) quite honestly, I found that refreshing,” Mr. Lhota said. “To actually talk about the fact that I was supporting someone who was right on some issues and wrong on other issues, to put that in the same context as someone who was supporting murdering, rapist, Marxists is just extremely crazy to me.”

At one point, the moderator Errol Louis switched things up by allowing the candidates to ask questions of the missing Mr. de Blasio. “We’re going to do something a little unusual here,” Mr. Louis said. “And we have good reason to think that he may be watching–or people close to him may be watching.”

“Bill, if you’re out there listening, how can you possibly call yourself a progressive when you are so opposed to charter schools?” Mr. Lhota asked.

“Bill, I know you’re watching,” Mr. Carrión stated, calling the absence “disrespectful to the voters.”

Following the deabte, the lhota campaign reelased a statement, calling Mr. de Blasio’s absence an insult to NYC voters. “Bill de Blasio can try to duck from the public and cover up his record of wasteful spending, huge tax increases, and his willingness to handcuff the NYPD. But he shouldn’t insult New Yorkers by hiding from a debate,” Jessica Proud, Lhota’s campaign spokeswoman, said.

“In contrast, Joe took the opportunity to participate in the NY1 debate and speak to New Yorkers directly about his vision for growing New York’s economy with career jobs, fixing our broken education system, and keeping us the safest large city in America. Joe will continue to speak out about his positive vision to move this city forward.”

According to a NY Daily New instant online poll, Lhota won the debate over (absent) de Blasio by a 66-34 margin.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)