Updated 10/12/2009 08:12 PM
For Mayoral Candidates, Debate Stage Is Set
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Mayor Bloomberg and his Democratic challenger, Bill Thompson, will face off Tuesday night in the first televised debate of the general election. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.For City Comptroller Bill Thompson, Tuesday night's debate on NY1 could prove to be a turning point. A chance to win over voters and push back against the mayor's formidable campaign operation fueled, so far, by $65 million in spending. It's also a chance for him to highlight what he says are the differences between himself and the incumbent.
"If you look at the last eight years, there has been a focus on big developments and big developers and Wall Street and wealthy New Yorkers," Thompson said. "I see New York City as being more focused on middle class New Yorkers and working New Yorkers and poor families."
NY1 will carry the first debate between Mayor Bloomberg and challenger Bill Thompson LIVE from El Museo Del Barrio from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
To comment on the debate, send an email to Debates@nyccfb.info
The mayor, meanwhile, kept his cards close to his vest on Monday.
"Tomorrow night will be an opportunity for my opponent and I to say what we've done and what we would do," Bloomberg said.
When asked about what could be filed under the "what we would do" category, Bloomberg on Monday pointed to the issue of taxes.
"I think that we can get through the next fiscal year without any tax increases in the city," Bloomberg said.
In 2001, Mayor Bloomberg debated his Democratic rival, Mark Green, just once on live television.
In 2005, it was a debate the mayor skipped, at Harlem's Apollo Theater, that attracted the most attention and criticism.
Green, who is supporting Bill Thompson, says he thinks the mayor's debating skills have been underestimated, largely because his public persona is low key compared with other politicians. He suggested Thompson hit repeatedly on a few key themes to drive them home with voters.
"Bill Thompson has to not simply settle for a clinch or a tie. He has to try to do something more dramatic, which means one of two things: either really chip away at Mike Bloomberg on a vulnerability, and the biggest achilles heal is term limits. Or project a level of executive self assurance that voters have not yet seen or know," Green said.
No matter the outcome, the debate will likely be the first time many New Yorkers focus on a race that so far has attracted little attention.