Attacked last night at the debate by his rival as being part of a ‘divisive’ administration, Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota came out swinging this morning, throwing back the dirt at Democrat Bill de Blasio, who was part of the Dinkins administration.

“Like David Dinkins wasn’t a divisive mayor? The man who crime went to levels that we have never seen before in the City of New York,” Mr. Lhota charged in a morning interview on Fox 5.

“David Dinkins–more people died when he was mayor than anything you can possibly imagine. How dare he impugn the integrity of Rudy Giuliani! Because of him and the reductions in crime, so many more people are alive today,” he continued. “If Bill de Blasio thinks he’s a perfect man and he thinks David Dinkins is a perfect man and they have the right to, you know, scorn former Mayor Giuliani, they’re absolutely wrong.”

In a new TV ad released this morning, the Lhota campaign highlights Mr. de Blasio’s weak positions on crime.

“Whether it is attacking Ray Kelly and the NYPD or saying his plans for dealing with violent criminals is to sit down with them and talk, Bill de Blasio’s weak stance on crime will take us back to days New Yorkers don’t want to ever experience again,” said Lhota spokeswoman Jessica Proud. “He has no concept of proactive policing and how critical the NYPD’s policies have been to reducing crime to record lows. His plans handcuff and demoralize our law enforcement will jeopardize New Yorker’s safety. We can’t allow him to take us backwards.”

Mr. Lhota further acknowledged that he hadn’t delivered the “knock-out blow” he needed last night to turn the election around, but said it isn’t over yet. “It always comes down to the last round,” he argued.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)