Paladino pushes for Buffalo debate, but Cuomo seems uninterested
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POUGHKEEPSIE -- Democrat Andrew Cuomo signaled this morning he is not interested in any more gubernatorial debates, a day after a rollicking, 90-minute session with all seven major and minor party candidates that left little time for substantive debate.
Carl P. Paladino, the Republican candidate, today called for another session -- this time in his hometown of Buffalo.
But Cuomo was not jumping at the idea, suggesting he is more interested in campaigning around the state than sharing stage time with his opponents.
"I think the debate yesterday served a purpose to the extent that people want to see all the candidates there and discuss their platforms ... So I think we pretty much [have] seen that. Also, there's only a couple weeks left in the campaign. There are things I want to get done," Cuomo said at a campaign stop in this Mid-Hudson Valley town this morning. He said he has visited 46 counties, and wants to make stops in the remaining ones before Nov. 2.
On WOR Radio in New York this morning, Paladino said the debate's format -- leaving barely time for eight questions and only brief responses by the seven -- was "terrible."
"We're, for sure, going to ask Andrew for another debate in upstate someplace," Paladino said this morning.
"Last night I talked to a few of the other candidates and we agree: there needs to be more debates, and at least one upstate," Paladino said after Monday's debate at Hofstra University on Long Island. "I want to invite all candidates to my hometown of Buffalo -- one of America's most suffering cities -- to debate issues important to upstate residents."
Michael Caputo, Paladino's campaign manager, said the Buffalo businessman has been insisting that all seven candidates who legally made it onto the ballot should be included in debates. But with voters unable to hear much from the two major party candidates Monday, Caputo after the debate signaled Paladino would be willing to meet Cuomo one on one.
But Cuomo, who found himself the target of relentless verbal assaults by everyone except Paladino during the Monday debate, insisted this morning that it was the Paladino campaign that originally wanted the seven-way debate.
"I initially didn't find the argument overly persuasive, but it's a valid argument," he said.
He did not answer a question about whether he would debate just Paladino.
Cuomo called the Monday debate "theater" but also said it "served a purpose" to let voters see all the people who will be on the different ballot lines in November.
Cuomo has been limiting his public appearances and has been stingy about granting reporters across the state any real opportunities to quiz him on his policy ideas. Democrats say he is operating on a "run-the-clock-out" mode and is having caution guide his final weeks in order to not make any mistakes that could dent his lead in the polls.
Cuomo said the campaigns are "discussing" debates, but he did not say what is under discussion.
Several times, Cuomo noted Paladino's all-inclusive demand.
"So, the question would be do you want to have more debates like last night is really the only valid question," Cuomo said.
Caputo noted that two Buffalo broadcast television stations -- WKBW and WGRZ -- have issued invitations for a debate. He said an event at the University at Buffalo has also been discussed.
In addition, The Buffalo News, in partnership with YNN/NY1 cable television, also has extended an invitation to Cuomo and Paladino for a Buffalo debate.
While Paladino had problems with the format -- and did appear lost a couple times -- he thought the debate worked for him. "I think we illustrated that we're not the Angry Carl," he said.
As for his sudden departure from the stage for a trip to the bathroom right before his closing statement, Paladino said on WOR, "Stuff happens in life. What are you going to do?"
News Political Reporter Robert J. McCarthy contributed to this report.