The stakes couldn’t be higher for Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota as the two candidates for mayor square off tonight in the first series of three TV debates, that could determine who will become the next mayor of New York City.
Hours before the debate, Mr. Lhota expressed his confidence that he can make up a 44 point gap between him and his Democratic opponent, Bill de Blasio – starting tonight with their first of three debates.
“New Yorkers will focus once the debates start. They start tonight,” Mr. Lhota told Bloomberg TV in an interview Tuesday morning. “I’ll be standing mano a mano with Bill de Blasio, with my vision for the future, his vision for the future, and New Yorkers are going to get to see that vision.”
The de Blasio campaign on their part sought to lower expectations for their candidate’s first one-on-one face off since 2009. In am email to supporters, Tuesday afternoon, De Blasio’s campaign manager, Bill Hyers, sought to rally supporters, anticipating hard hitting attacks by Mr. Lhota.
“Tonight’s the first major TV debate of the general election, and if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on some nasty nonsense and attacks coming from the other side,” Hyers wrote.
“We all know how well the Republican Party is behaving these days. It’s going to feel like they’re throwing the kitchen sink at our guy.”
“Bill’s tough, and he can take it. But there are people and families out there counting on the next mayor to change this city so that it works for all New Yorkers, no matter what neighborhood they live in,” he added. “They need a mayor who will tax the wealthy to fund a pre-k seat for every child and after-school programs that keep our kids safe. A mayor who will make affordable housing a priority, and keep hospitals out of the hands of big developers and open for care.”
The debate airs tonight on ABC or online at 7pm.
(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)
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One Response
J-Lho has no chance with entrenched interests in this city, not to mention Reb Friedman in Williamsburg sending his minions out for de Blasio. His Afro haired soon will garner him the black vote.