Comptroller Candidates Begin Two-Week Sprint
.jpg)
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
The primary may be over, but the runoff race in the city comptroller's competition is just beginning as both candidates look towards the finish line. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.It's now a two-week, two-way fight to the finish. And the remaining Democratic candidates duking it out to be the next City Comptroller wasted no time Wednesday getting right back on the campaign trail.
"We are taking our message of results and accomplishment and vision for the comptroller's office to every community in all five boroughs," said comptroller candidate David Yassky.
Time is of the essence and so is a solid "Get Out The Vote" operation. Turnout in Tuesday's primary was exceptionally low and it's expected to be even lower for the September 29th runoff.
Queens City Councilman John Liu, the top vote getter Tuesday with 38 percent of the vote has strong union support, which could prove critical in getting voters to the polls.
Liu says that it's not just unions, but his entire support base, that will be an asset as he tries to become the city's top financial officer.
"This is the mechanism, this is the backbone of my campaign that will drive the turnout on September 29th, when I will secure the Democratic nomination," Liu said.
As for the defeated candidates, they're now debating who they'll support or whether they'll support a comptroller candidate at all.
Another twist in the quick sprint to the polls are two major Jewish holidays over the next two weeks, which could sideline Yassky, who is Jewish, for a bit.
"I generally treat Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as holidays and generally do not work," Yassky said.
Liu, who is known as a tireless campaigner, ducked when asked whether he would refrain from campaigning on the holidays, if Yassky decided he wouldn't do it.
"I am certainly not going to engage in any way in campaigning in a way that would be offensive to any New Yorkers," Liu said.
The race has yet to capture the public's attention, but perhaps that will change in the next two weeks as both candidates step up their campaigning in the final push to this month's finish line.