LOWER MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) — With the election now just two months away and trailing in the polls, Andrew Cuomo is now trying a new tactic, calling for Zohran Mamdani to participate in five debates, one in each borough in the final weeks of the campaign.
While Cuomo says he hasn’t talked to President Trump about intervening in the race, he is hoping Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa drop out.
It all comes amid a push by the candidates to stop the frontrunner, Mamdani.
The Adams campaign didn’t miss a beat on Thursday, as several Muslim leaders endorsed the mayor at City Hall. Adams insisted the stakes are high.
“If the president or anyone else that believe they have investments in this city of any magnitude is concerned, I say they should be concerned,” he said.
Adams is downplaying speculation that he would suspend his re-election campaign to serve in the Trump administration. The president reportedly wants to narrow the field of challengers to prevent socialist Zohran Mamdani from winning in November, a prospect regarded as “terrifying” to some in the city’s business community.
Billionaire John Catsimatidis says he’s appealed directly to President Trump.
“I said to him, ‘Time for you to save New York,’” Catsimatidis said.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has been running 20 points behind in a four-way race. If Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa drop out, Cuomo is convinced he will beat Mamdani.
“Because the majority of New Yorkers oppose him,” Cuomo said. “And the only way he wins is by splitting that vote.”
Attorney Jim Walden suspended his Independent campaign and he’s urging the others to unite.
“I don’t care how you sort it out,” he said on Thursday. “Get in a room, pick straws if you have to. This is about anyone but Mamdani. The time for ego is over.”
But Sliwa was defiant.
“You can’t motivate me to leave this race. I am running as the Republican candidate,” he said.
Mamdani won the Democratic nomination with an historic turnout, which he insists is a mandate.
“This is a moment where we need to be working together to deliver not only a city that each and every New Yorker can afford, but one that they can feel proud to call their home and that’s what’s being called into question by these actions,” Mamdani said.
Congressman Jerry Nadler believes Mamdani will win but says Cuomo will be beholden to Trump if he wins with the president’s help.
“That’s the whole point. I don’t think it’s going to happen. I don’t think it’s going to work, but if it did, yes,” Nadler said
But Cuomo insists he has a history of standing up to the president.
“I fought him every step of the way. So, my speculation, if he wants anything-anyone-he wants Mamdani, because he would go through that kid like a Mack truck,” Cuomo said.
Meantime, Mamdani responded to the president saying if he wants to interfere in the mayor’s race he should come to New York City and debate him directly.
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