Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa campaign after heated first mayoral debate
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City mayoral candidates were back on the campaign trail Friday following a heated first debate.
Barely 12 hours after the debate was over, Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was greeting teachers, physicians, flight attendants and office cleaners at the headquarters of 32BJ, one of the city's largest unions.
"I feel good about the campaign every day. I do feel that the debate went well because it was an opportunity to speak directly to New Yorkers about our agenda," Mamdani said.
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Mamdani took that opportunity Thursday night, withstanding a series of attacks from former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
"Zohran! Boy, your fantasies are never going to come about in terms of funding everything you want. 'It's going to be free, free, free.' It's a fantasy. Let's deal with the reality," Sliwa said during the debate.
Meanwhile, Cuomo called out Mamdani's experience.
"This is not a job for a first timer. Any day you could have a hurricane, or God forbid, a 9/11, a health pandemic. If you don't know what you're doing, people could die," Cuomo said.
Mamdani quickly pushed back.
"And if we have a health pandemic, then why would New Yorkers turn back to the governor who sent seniors to their death in nursing homes? That's the kind of experience that's on offer here today. What I don't have on experience, I make up for on integrity. And what you don't have on integrity, you could never make up for with experience," Mamdani said.
But when Mamdani struggled to explain how he would pay for his vast affordability agenda, Cuomo pounced.
"It's impossible. He said he's going to raise the taxes the same as New Jersey? Corporate tax? No, it would be double the tax. You would see New Yorkers on I-95 fleeing for Florida," Cuomo said.
A new Fox News poll gives Mamdani 52% of likely voters, with Cuomo trailing by 24 points. The former governor now admits winning is nearly impossible with Sliwa in the race.
"On the math, if Sliwa was not in the race, it's either head to head or I win, depending on which poll you believe," Cuomo told Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter on Up Close.
When asked about plans to drop out, Sliwa says he's not going anywhere.
"The problem with Andrew Cuomo is that he doesn't understand what 'no' means in many different ways," Sliwa said.
"I''ve got the energy, I've got the resolve, I've got the new ideas. I'm the only one who's in the streets, in the subways, who reflects what average, everyday working people are saying."
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