GOP gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro issued an “open letter” Sunday to ”chicken” two-term Democratic incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his refusal to agree to debates — including one upstate — before the Nov. 6 election.
Molinaro noted that four TV stations — Charter Spectrum, WHEC-TV Rochester, WCBS-TV and WABC-TV — have offered to host one-on-one debates between him and Cuomo.
“Typically, this letter would be from my campaign manager to your campaign manager, but since it is widely understood that you and only you make decisions, I thought we might skip the middle management. In addition, you falsely stated on WCBS radio that our campaigns are in touch regarding debates — they are not, so let’s get the conversation started,” Molinaro wrote.
“While I have to admit that I enjoy waking up every morning to a new ‘chicken’ headline in the New York Post, this campaign is not about me, or about you, it’s about the future of our state and the 19 million New Yorkers who call it home,” he said.
“Charter, WHEC-TV, WCBS-TV and WABC-TV have all generously offered one-on-one debates, which I have accepted,” Molinaro said. “But, because I believe so strongly that the needs of upstate have been overlooked for too long, I am suggesting that you agree to at least one debate that is focused solely on the unique issues confronting upstate New York.”
Democratic candidates have canceled scheduled debates with Spectrum because of a labor dispute and union picketing against parent company Charter Communications. Members of IBEW Local 3 have been on strike against the cable giant for 19 months.
Citing the picketing, Democrats Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and attorney general candidate Letitia James both pulled out of scheduled debates with Spectrum NY1, while Mayor de Blasio last week skipped appearing on his weekly show on NY1 and Cuomo urged all officials to boycott the Spectrum stations.
But Molinaro insisted that upstate has been an “afterthought” in Cuomo’s campaign and upstate issues were ignored during the governor’s Democratic primary debate with Cynthia Nixon even though “challenges that make life in Buffalo so different than life in Brooklyn.”
“Finally, upstaters deserve to understand the impacts of your drive to elect a New York City-centric, Democratic majority in the Senate… All New Yorkers deserve a real substantive debate, but upstate New Yorkers deserve their own debate.”
A Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed Cuomo leading Molinaro 58 percent to 35, largely because of a 77-13 lead in New York City and a seven-point lead in the downstate suburbs.
But Moliinaro bested Cuomo 51 percent to 41 percent upstate.
“I earnestly hope you accept this opportunity. To date, our campaign has issued policy papers on ending corruption, cutting taxes, veterans and saving the MTA – and there are more on the way. We have a lot to discuss. Finally, please let me reassure you contrary to what you may think, this race is not about who debated who in 1998 or 1994 for that matter. This race is about the future of New York, not its past. The choice is yours,” Molinaro said.
Cuomo thus far has refused to agree to a televised debate with Molinaro or even minor party candidates 16 days before the election.
He held one debate with primary rival Nixon.
Four years ago, Cuomo did not debate his primary opponent Zephyr Teachout and held one debate in the general election against Republican Rob Astorino that included the two minor party candidates, Howie Hawkins of the Green Party and Michael McDermott of the Libertarian Party.
