1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," THE FIRST DEBATE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION IN THIS YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

WE'LL HAVE DETAILS AND BREAK IT DOWN WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

THEN, ANDREW GIULIANI WANTS TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR THIS YEAR.

HE JOINS US TO CHAT AHEAD OF THIS MONTH'S PRIMARY.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE MOVED ON TO THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

FIRST UP IS THIS YEAR'S PRIMARIES FOR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LATE THEY'RE MONTH.

THAT ELECTION IS ON TUESDAY, JUNE 28th.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS.

AND THIS WEEK, WE GOT A FRESH LOOK AT THAT RACE.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE THREE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR WERE AT THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME FOR A DEBATE.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL, CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI AND NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS ARE ALL RUNNING FOR THEIR PARTY'S NOMINATION, AND WHILE HOCHUL IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE A COMFORTABLE LEAD OVER HER OPPONENTS, THEY AREN'T 2 LETTING UP.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DEBATE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR HAS BEEN OPENED IN MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO RESIGNED LAST YEAR, DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLED TO FILL HIS SHOES.

AND THREE CANDIDATES QUICKLY EMERGED.

HIS SUCCESSOR, NOW-GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL, NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS AND CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI FROM LONG ISLAND.

THE THREE FACED OFF IN A DEBATE TUESDAY NIGHT WHERE NO ONE WAS PULLING THEIR PUNCHES.

>> WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, SHE VOTED WITH, WAS ENDORSED BY, AND TOOK MONEY FROM THE NRA.

WHERE'S THE PRINCIPLE IN THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT DAYLIGHT, THERE'S SO MUCH BRIGHT DAYLIGHT BETWEEN OUR DECISIONS THAT I NEED TO FIND A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE TO STOP THE BUDGET TO SAY WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

NOT A BILLION TO GET A STADIUM TO BE BUILT OUTSIDE OF BUFFALO WHERE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGE AS A TOP ISSUE WITH EACH CANDIDATE ASKED ABOUT GUN CRIME IN NEW YORK CITY.

SHOOTINGS HAVE SPIKED SINCE 2019 IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NYPD.

WILLIAMS, A 3 PROGRESSIVE, SAID THE STATE SHOULD INVEST MORE MONEY INTO PREVENTION EFFORTS, YOUTH PROGRAMMING, AND VICTIMS SERVICES, AND HE SAID THE ISSUE WAS PERSONAL.

>> A BULLET WENT THROUGH MY MOTHER'S CAR DOOR WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HER HOME.

THESE ARE NOT THEORETICAL THINGS FOR ME.

THESE ARE PERSONAL.

THIS IS NOT ESOTERIC.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS JUST THE PRESS CONFERENCES LIKE ANDREW CUOMO DID WHILE PEOPLE WERE DYING DURING THE PANDEMIC WILL NOT STOP PEOPLE FROM DYING.

I'M TIRED OF GOING FROM PRESS CONFERENCE TO FUNERAL.

>> ON THE ENVIRONMENT, CANDIDATES WERE ASKED ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED CRYPTO MINING.

THAT'S WHERE SOMEONE CAN USE A BANK OF COMPUTERS TO SOLVE COMPLICATED MATH PROBLEMS ONLINE AND WIN CRYPTO CURRENCY LIKE BIT COIN, BUT IT USES A LOT OF ENERGY.

SO THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL LAST WEEK THAT WOULD WANT THAT PRACTICE FOR TWO YEARS, CITING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

HOCHUL, A MODERATE, WAS ASKED IF SHE WOULD SIGN THAT BILL AND DIDN'T GIVE A CLEAR ANSWER BUT SAID SHE SHARED THOSE SAME CONCERNS.

>> BUT ON THAT VERY QUESTION, WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ALLOWING MORE FACILITIES TO COME AND THAT GO INTO FORMERLY CLOSED 4 FOSSIL FUEL-GENERATING PLANTS.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SITUATION WHERE SOME MAY BE GENERATING HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER, FOR EXAMPLE.

I NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXAMINE DIFFERENCES BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DOING ANYTHING TO HARM THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> WILLIAMS SAID HE SUPPORTED THE PAUSE AND SUOZZI DID, TOO, BUT FOR LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

AND THE CANDIDATES WERE ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

SUOZZI, ALSO A MODERATE, TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO KNOCK HOCHUL.

SAYING HER ADMINISTRATION IS DRAGGING ITS FEET ON A COMPLETE UP-AND-DOWN REVIEW OF THE STATE'S POLICIES AT THE HEIGHT OF THE VIRUS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVEN'T HAD HEARINGS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE, TO FIND OUT WHAT THE FACTS ACTUALLY ARE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THIS SO HE CAN LEARN LESSONS FROM WHAT WE WENT THROUGH.

WE HAVE NOT LEARNED THE LESSONS FROM COVID BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS OMICRON BACK IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY OF LAST YEAR WHILE THE GOVERNOR WAS TRAVELING THE STATE DOING FUND-RAISING >> THE THREE DEMOCRATS WILL COMPETE IN THE PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR ON TUESDAY, JUNE 28th, AND WHOEVER WINS 5 THAT RACE WILL BE THE PARTY'S NOMINEE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WE'RE NOW LESS THAN THREE WEEK OUT UNTIL THE PRIMARY, AND A LOT COULD HAPPEN IN THAT TIME.

LET'S GET INTO THAT AND MORE WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL, DAVE LOMBARDO IS FROM THE CAPITAL PRESS ROOM FROM WCNY AND ON PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS, AND JOE SPECTRA IS FROM POLITICO.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS DEBATE.

I DON'T WANT TO STEAL YOUR WORD.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE WENT ON AIR, BUT I DID FIND IT A LITTLE BORING.

NOT ALL THE FIREWORKS, AND MAYBE THAT'S GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY, YADDA, YADDA, YADDA, I DON'T KNOW.

JOE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GOVERN HER TO DO HERE IN THIS DEBATE?

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN ALL THREE CANDIDATES ON THE STAGE SHARING THE STAGE TOGETHER.

IT HAD THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOT OF AWKWARD AND, YOU KNOW, CONFLICTING CIRCUMSTANCES.

THAT DIDN'T QUITE HAPPEN.

WHAT DOES SHE NEED TO DO?

>> WELL, FIRST, YOU WANT TO HAVE A GIF-FREE DEBATE, NOTHING THAT GARNERS HEADLINES THAT YOU MADE A 6 MISTAKE OR DID SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE VOTERS RECONSIDER THEIR SUPPORTER.

SHE'S STILL INTRODUCING HERSELF TO NEW YORKERS.

SHE HAS NEVER RUN-- I MEAN, SHE RAN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

I MEAN THIS IS HER-- THIS IS FIRST ELECTION.

SHE'S NOT BEING RE-ELECTED.

SOMETIMES YOU SEE THAT STORY, GOVERNOR SEEKING RE-ELECTION.

NO, THIS IS HER FIRST ELECTION AS GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK SHE DEFINITELY HANDLED SOME OF THE BARBS THAT WERE EXPECTED, RIGHT?

THEY KNOCKED HER FOR HER PREVIOUS ENDORSEMENT FROM THE NRA WHEN SHE WAS A CONGRESSWOMAN OUT IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

THEY TRIED TO GO AFTER HER ON SOME OF THE CRIME ISSUES, WHETHER OR NOT SHE WENT FURTHER ENOUGH ON BAIL REFORM.

SHE HAD ANSWERS FOR ALL OF IT.

BRIAN BENJAMIN, RIGHT, HER SCANDAL-PLAGUED FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SHE TRIED TO KNOCK HER ON THAT AND SHE CAME FORWARD AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT HURT.

THAT WAS A TOUGH ONE AND MOVED ON.

SHE EXPLAINED THE NRA.

SHE SPUN IT IN A WAY WHERE SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, I WISH MORE DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS WOULD CHANGE THEIR HEART LIKE I DID OVER THE LAST DECADE.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD ANSWER.

7 >> THAT WAS REALLY ONE WAY TO SPIN IT.

AND SUOZZI AND JUMAANE WILLIAMS, THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE-- THEY TOOK THEIR SHOTS BUT NEVER REALLY LANDED THE BIG PUNCH ON HER.

>> YOU KNOW DAVE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SUOZZI AND JUMAANE'S PERFORMANCE HERE?

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THEY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

I THINK SUOZZI, IN PARTICULAR, DID A REALLY GOOD JOB ABOUT GOING AFTER HER OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT COMES THROUGH TO THE VOTERS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VOTERS WATCH THIS DEBATE.

MAYBE IT DOESN'T MATTER IN THE END.

HOW DO YOU THINK THEY DID?

>> YOU MADE TWO IMPORTANT POINTS THERE, HOW DID THEY DO, AND HOW ARE PEOPLE CONSUMING THIS?

SO HOW DID THEY DO?

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF SPORTS BECAUSE POLITICS IS ALWAYS A SPORTING EVENT FOR ME, MAYBE FOR YOU, TOO, JOE.

>> YEAH.

>> SUOZZI AND JUMAANE WILLIAMS COME INTO THIS DOUGH BAIT WAY BEHIND AND TIME RUNNING OUT ON THE CLOCK.

SO THEY NEED TO MAKE BIG MOVES.

THIS IS A BASKETBALL GAME.

THEY'RE JACKING UP 3s.

THEY'RE PLAYING A FULL-COURT DEFENSE.

IT'S A RISKY MOVE, AND IT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN HERE.

IT DIDN'T REALLY PAY OFF.

THEY WEREN'T HITTING ALL 8 THEIR SHOTS.

THE GOVERNOR WASN'T GIVING UP THE BALL, SO TO SPEAK.

LIKE JOE SAID, SHE WAS PLAYING A RESERVE OFFENSE.

SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, PLAYING A SMART DEFENSE.

SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE UP ANY GROUNDS.

THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FORCE THAT GAFFE.

THE OTHER THING YOU SAY, THOUGH, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS?

SIX MILLION DEMOCRATS IN NEW YORK.

IN 2018, 1.5 MILLION VOTED IN THE PRIMARY, A TINY, TINY FRACTION OF THAT WATCHED THE DEBATE.

MOST OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ARE CONSUMING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DEBATE, IT'S THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

IT'S THROUGH READING THEIR NEWSPAPER AND THE FILTER THAT WE'RE GIVING IT, AT LEAST MOST OF THE MEDIA, WAS THERE WASN'T MUCH TO SEE HERE.

YOU HAD A PRETTY MODERATE DEMOCRATIC PERFORMANCE FROM KATHY HOCHUL.

YOU HAD SORT OF A CENTER RIGHT PERFORMANCE FROM TOM SUOZZI AND A FAR LEFT PERFORMANCE FROM JUMAANE WILLIAMS AND THERE WASN'T ANY BIG GAME CHANGERS THERE.

I THINK WE HAVE A GAME THAT'S GOING TO KIND OF JUST RUN OUT THE CLOCK ON THE END OF JUNE WITH KATHY HOCHUL WINNING.

I THINK IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF HOW BIG OF A MARGIN IS IT.

>> YOU'LL SEE THE SECOND DEBATE, RIGHT?

YOU'LL SEE HOW MUCH THEY COME OUT A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE, TRYING TO MAKE UP SOME OF THAT GROUND AS THEY POINTED OUT.

9 >> RIGHT.

THAT'S ON THIS THURSDAY, THIS THURSDAY COMING THURSDAY ON ABC NEW YORK.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE IF THAT CHANGES THINGS AT ALL.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, DAVE.

I THINK THIS DEBATE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SURPRISES.

I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BORING.

I THINK HOCHUL GAVE THE ANSWERS THAT WE EXPECTED HER TO EXCEPT I WILL SAY ON THE BRIAN BENJAMIN QUESTION OF, HOW DID YOU NOT VET THIS PERSON WELL ENOUGH, THAT SHE GOT, I WAS SURPRISED THAT SHE CAME OUT AND WAS HONEST ABOUT, WELL, THAT HURT ME, THAT WASN'T GOOD.

RATHER THAN SAYING, LIKE, OH-- WHAT THEY HAD STARTED SAYING AT THE BEGIN, BASICALLY SAYING, WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD AT THE TIME AND THIS IS HOW IT CAME OUT.

>> I GUESS IT WASN'T WORKING.

LET'S TEST SOMETHING OUT.

LET'S SAY I'M HUMAN.

YOU'RE HUMAN.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES SOMETIMES AND IT'S HOW WE GROW AND MATURE FROM THEM, AND I'M A LEADER WHO'S, YOU KNOW, KIND OF NEW TO THE JOB.

BUT I HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THAT I'M ADAPTABLE BECAUSE LOOK AT THIS NEW, GREAT, SHINY THING THAT I TAPPED TO REPLACE BRIAN BENJAMIN, ANTONIO DELGADO.

SO WE GOT IT RIGHT THE SECOND TIME AROUND, IF I'M CONTINUING MY KATHY HOCHUL IMPERSONATION.

>> YOU KNOW, JOE, LOOKING FORWARD, DAVE BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.

I THINK IT IS 10 RUNNING OUT THE CLOCK FOR KATHY HOCHUL TO WIN.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THAT COULD CHANGE THIS RACE?

>> YOU KNOW, BARRING SOME SORT OF SCANDAL OR SOMETHING, IT WILL BE UP ON THE AIR AND THEY'LL ALL BE MAKING THEIR FINAL CASES TO DEMOCRATS.

AGAIN, NOT TO BE CLICHE, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TURNOUT.

IF TURNOUT IS REALLY LOW, AND NOW YOU KIND OF HAVE A WILDCARD OF WILL HOCHUL SUPPORTERS COME OUT VERSUS SUOZZI AND JUMAANE, WHO IS MORE MOTIVATED THERE.

AND IF SHE GETS THROUGH THAT, THEN PROBABLY I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT THE BIGGER CHALLENGE FOR HER IS IN NOVEMBER AND WHETHER, AS MOST EXPECT, IT WILL BE A GOOD YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS AND WHETHER THAT COULD TRANSLATE INTO A REALLY CLOSE RACE FOR HER.

>> YEAH.

I GUESS, DAVE, DO YOU THINK THAT THIS DEBATE CHANGES ANYTHING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AT ALL?

I DON'T THINK SO, BUT IN TERMS OF THE DEBATES THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT HOCHUL MIGHT TRY TO PANDER TO THE LEFT A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH AND THAT COULD HURT HER IN THE GENERAL DURING HE THESE DEBATES AS SHE'S GOING INTO THE PRIMARY?

>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THAT SHE'S TRYING TO LEAN INTO THE ISSUES THAT ARE POPULAR WITH HER BASE BUT ALSO POPULAR IN 11 NOVEMBER.

THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING HER PUT ADS ON ABOUT ARE ABORTION AND GUN, THINGS THAT HAVE A MAJORITY SUPPORT AMONGST THE GENERAL ELECTION ELECTORATE.

SO THEY'RE VERY POPULAR AMONGST HER BASE BUT THEY ALSO WORK IN NOVEMBER.

SO I THINK WE'RE SEEING HER THINK ABOUT THE SHORT GAME AS WELL AS THE LONG GAME WITH WHAT HER FOCUS IS.

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE THEY KEPT GOING BACK TO CRIME, AND EVERY POLL SHOWS THAT'S EITHER, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO.

IT'S RIGHT UP THERE AS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR VOTERS AND WHEN THEY WOULD KNOCK HER ON CRIME AND NOT DO IT ENOUGH, AND SHE COMES BACK AND SAYS WE DID DO BAIL REFORM, AND WE DID DO THE GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION, SO SHE HAS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE OVER THIS SIX-MONTH LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT SHE CAN POINT TO THAT SAYS, LISTEN, WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT THE BEST WE CAN.

>> CAN SUOZZI OR JUMAANE DO THE SAME THING WITH ANYTHING AT ALL, JOE, YOU THINK?

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS?

I ASKED YOU WHAT COULD CHANGE THE FEW WEEKS BEFORE.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT CAN SUOZZI OR JUMAANE DO ANYTHING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO REALLY BOOST THEIR NUMBERS WITHOUT HOCHUL HAVING SOME SORT OF GAFFE?

12 >> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE COUNTING ON.

THEY'RE COUNTING ON, IN SUOZZI'S CASE, PEOPLE'S FRUSTRATION WITH CRIME, WITH INFLATION, WITH THE ECONOMY, YOU KNOW, ALL THE ISSUES WHERE THEY MIGHT JUST WANT TO HAVE A NEW PERSON IN THERE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU-- THEY TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE IS TRYING TO TIE HER TO THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER IT'S ON RESPONSE TO COVID AND A NURSING HOME SCANDAL AND I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT, WHETHER IT'S IN THE PRIMARY OR THE GENERAL.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY NEITHER CANDIDATE HAS-- WELL, I GUESS I DO KNOW WHY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY EITHER CANDIDATE HAS GONE AFTER HER FOR BEING CUOMO'S LG DURING THE HARASSMENT SCANDAL.

SHE DIDN'T REALLY SPEAK UP ABOUT THAT DURING THOSE MONTHS UP UNTIL HE RESIGNED.

I'M INTERESTED IN WHY THEY DON'T GO AFTER HER FOR THAT.

BUT THAT'S A TOPIC FOR ANOTHER DAY.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

DAVE LOMBARDO FROM WCNY'S, THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM.

JOE SPECTOR FROM POLITICO, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, DAN.

>> ALL RIGHT, STAYING NOW WITH THIS YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

THE FOUR REPUBLICANS RUNNING IN THEIR PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR WILL FACE OFF IN THEIR OWN DEBATE ON MONDAY.

THAT'S ON CBS NEW YORK.

THE FOUR 13 CANDIDATES IN THAT RACE ARE CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, THE PARTY'S FAVORITE, BUSINESSMAN HARRY WILSON, FORMER WESTCHESTERER COUNTY EXECUTIVE ROB ASTORINO AND ANDREW GIULIANI.

NOW GIULIANI HAS A UNIQUE HISTORY IN NEW YORK.

YOU PROBABLY KNOW HIS FATHER, RUDY GIULIANI, WHO WAS MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY FOR TWO TERMS AND FAST FORWARD TO FIVE YEARS AGO AND THE YOUNGER GIULIANI MADE IT TO THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE HE, UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND NOW HE WANTS TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK ABOUT HIS CAMPAIGN AND WHERE HE STANDS ON TOP ISSUES AHEAD OF THIS MONTH'S PRIMARY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ANDREW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> DAN, THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

SO IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS.

I WANT TO GAUGE WHERE YOU ARE WITH VOTERS.

YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, CRISS-CROSSING THE STATE.

SO TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM VOTERS WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE TALKING TO THEM.

>> WELL, I GOT TO TELL YOU WITH NEARLY TWO WEEKS UNTIL ELECTION DAY, ELECTION PRIMARY DAY AND NOW WITH UPCOMING DEBATE HERE WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS, I'M REALLY EXCITED WITH WHERE WE 14 STAND.

OBVIOUSLY, EVERY SINGLE INDEPENDENT POLL THAT ONE OF MY COMPETITORS HAS NOT PAID FOR EITHER HAS US WINNING THIS RACE OR WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT ZOGBY POLL THAT HAD US UP 6 AND WHEN YOU ADD THE LEADERS, UP 10.

I THINK, FRANKLY, DAN, THAT'S A PRODUCT OF MAKING SURE WE GOT OUT THERE AND SPOKE TO AS MANY AS THE 2.9 MILLION REGISTERED REPUBLICANS AS POSSIBLE.

THIS STARTED OVER A YEAR AGO, AS YOU KNOW, DAN.

AND TO ME, IT'S BEEN SO IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO GO TO THE TRADITIONAL GOP BREAKFASTS BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GOING TO MASS GATHERING PLACES WHERE NEW YORKERS WERE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING THIS CONSISTENT LEAD IN THE POLL, BUT AGAIN, I'M TELLING OUR TEAM, IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW, ONE, WE PERFORM AT THE DEBATES AND MAKING SURE WE GET OUT THE VOTES.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE DEBATES ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR YOU.

YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF NAME RECOGNITION WITH THE GIULIANI NAME PER SE, BUT YOU HAVE THE CHANCE IN THESE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET YOUR NAME OUT THERE EVEN MORE THROUGH THESE DEBATES AND MAYBE MATCH YOUR NAME TO THE PERSON.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT AND I'M SURE SOME TOP ISSUES ARE GOING TO COME UP DURING THE DEBATES.

ONE 15 OF THEM IS GUNS AFTER THE SHOOTINGS IN BUFFALO AND UVALDE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE RECENTLY PASSED PACKAGE OF NEW GUN LAWS IN NEW YORK.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT PACKAGE THAT YOU COULD SUPPORT?

>> YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, IT'S TOUGH TO SAY THAT I COULD, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, DAN.

I MEAN, I LOOK AT WHAT I'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF THE RED FLAG LAWS THAT WERE ON THE BOOKS BEFORE AND THEY FAILED WHEN IT CAME TO THE BUFFALO SHOOTER IN TERMS OF BRUIN COUNTY.

I THINK THAT'S A DIRECT LINK TO THE FACT THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MADMAN DID NOT ACTUALLY GET A WEAPON.

FOR ME, WHAT I HAVE DONE FROM A CRIME PERSPECTIVE IS PROPOSE, RIGHT NOW, SIX-POINT PLAN THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE NEW YORK A SAFER PLACE.

GOING AFTER THE ILLEGAL WEAPONS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE OUT OF THE HANDS OF THOSE THAT ACTUALLY ARE COMMITTING THESE HEINOUS CRIMES, I THINK, IS SO IMPORTANT.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY GOING AFTER THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

I WOULD ALSO LOOK AT A FULL REPEAL OF BAIL REFORM ON DAY ONE, AND I'D ALSO KEEP D.A.s ACCOUNTABLE, LIKE ALVIN BRAGG.

WE JUST SAW THIS WEEK THE D.A.

IN SAN FRANCISCO GET RECALLED AND WHILE WE DON'T HAVE RECALL HERE IN NEW YORK, I WOULD USE ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 16 13 (B) OF THE NEW YORK CONSTITUTION TO REMOVE ALVIN BRAGG AND TO PUT HIM ON TRIAL ON DAY ONE OF MY ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP ALL NEW YORKERS WHEN WE KEEP D.A.s ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE EXECUTING THE OATH OF OFFICE.

>> IT'S A TRICKY ISSUE, THIS GUN ISSUE, AND THE AWFUL TRAGEDIES IN BUFFALO AND UVALDE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A CRIME ISSUE AS IT IS PARTLY A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, PARTLY SOME SAY ACCESS TO GUNS, PARTLY, YOU KNOW, THE BUFFALO SHOOTER WAS INFLUENCED BY WHITE SUPREMACY, FOR EXAMPLE.

YOU SAID THAT POLICE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAYBE PREVENT THAT.

SO CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY HAVE NEEDED THAT MAY HAVE PREVENTED THIS ATTACK IN BUFFALO?

>> WELL, I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE KNOW THAT NEARLY A YEAR AGO, IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY HAD INFORMATION THAT THIS GUY WAS PLANNING ON SHOOTING UP HIS SCHOOL.

I MEAN, HE HAD SAID THAT, AND INSTEAD NEW YORK STATE POLICE DETAINED HIM FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS AND THEN RELEASED HIM AND LET HIM GO.

ON TOP OF THAT, THE RED FLAG LAWS THAT WERE SIGNED, YOU KNOW, DID NOT IMMEDIATELY SPARK IT.

I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE, WHATEVER SIDE OF THE AISLE ON, LIKE WHOEVER THREATEN TOES SHOOT UP THEIR SCHOOL SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A 17 WEAPON.

SO THE FACT THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RED FLAG LAWS THAT WERE ON THE BOOKS DID NOT PREVENT THIS MADMAN FROM GETTING A WEAPON SHOWS THAT THERE WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WAS MISSED IN ALL OF THIS.

TO ME, I THINK THAT'S A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF A LOT OF THE-- I'LL CALL IT, IN SOME AREAS, IT IS TRULY SOME OF THE DEFUNDING OF OUR POLICE, BUT IN SOME WAYS, IT'S REIMAGINING OUR POLICE.

IN SOME WAYS, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF MAKING IT TOUGHER AND TOUGHER FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED NECESSARY TO HAVE THE LEVEL OF FORCE THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO PREVENT THINGS LIKE THAT AND THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK, I WOULD EVEN SAY, TO 2009 WHEN OUR TIER BENEFITS CHANGED FROM A TIER 2 TO A TIER 5 AND TIER 6 BENEFITS WHICH HAS MADE IT THAT MUCH TOUGHER TO ACTUALLY GET THE TALENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND KEEP THE TALENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN NEW YORK.

TO ME, I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.

I THINK, REALLY, THE NUCLEUS OF MAKING SURE THAT NEW YORK IS SAFER IS MAKING SURE THAT WE GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THE RESOURCES NECESSARY, DAN, SO THAT WAY, WE CAN PREVENT NOT JUST SHOOTING ATTACKS LIKE THIS, BUT ALSO INNER CITY VIOLENCE THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT HAS RUN RAMPANT IN OUR STATE OVER 18 THE LAST THREE YEARS, SINCE BAIL REFORM WAS SIGNED INTO LAW.

I THINK IT'S UNACCEPTABLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT ROCHESTER AND BINGHAMTON LAST YEAR HAD THE MOST MURDERS EVER IN HISTORY AND ROCHESTER RIGHT NOW IS ON PACE TO SURPASS THAT.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

>> I DON'T WANT TO MISCHARACTERIZE YOUR POSITION.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RED FLAG GUN LAWS.

SO DO YOU SUPPORT THOSE GUN LAWS AS A WAY TO PREVENT THESE TRAGEDIES?

DO YOU SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF IN THESE INSTANCES WHERE SOMEBODY MAKES A THREAT TO SOMEBODY, TO THEMSELVES OR MAY HARM THEMSELF THE, WOULD YOU SUPPORT POLICE USING THOSE RED FLAG LAWS TO REMOVE THEIR GUNS IN THOSE INCIDENTS?

>> I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT MAKING SURE THAT SOMEBODY WHO HAS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES LIKE THIS GUY, SOMEBODY WHO IS CRAZY, SOMEBODY WHO IS A MADMAN CANNOT GET ACCESS TO A WEAPON.

I THINK WE HAD THE INFORMATION THERE AND LIKE I SAID, I QUESTION THE RESOURCES THAT STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I GUESS THEN-GOVERNOR CUOMO AND NOW-GOVERNOR HOCHUL IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY KNEW AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF ALL OF THIS.

AND I WOULD ALSO LOOK AT THE FBI.

WHY WASN'T THE FBI ACTUALLY AWARE OF THIS, IN PARTICULAR?

I KNOW THE FBI HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE DONALD TRUMPS AND THE RUDY GIULIANIS AND ALSO PARENTS 19 IN IDENTIFYING THEM POTENTIALLY AS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS, DAN.

I THINK REALLY THE FBI'S RESOURCES SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT SOMEBODY LIKE THIS DOES NOT ACTUALLY GET THE WEAPON THAT THEY NEED.

>> SO LET'S TURN TO ANOTHER TOP ISSUE IN NEW YORK AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

SUPREME COURT IS CONSIDERING AN OVERTURN OF ROE V. WADE.

I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW YOUR POSITION ON ABORTION.

SO CAN YOU LAY OUT WHERE YOU ARE ON THAT, PRO-LIFE VERSUS PRO-CHOICE?

>> I AM PRO-LIFE.

I THINK ABOUT MY DAUGHTER EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT THIS, AND I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAW HER ON THE ULTRASOUND, DAN.

TO ME, IT WAS OBVIOUS AS A PARENT, AS A FATHER, MOST IMPORTANT THING I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT WHEN I SAW HER THERE AT A COUPLE WEEKS OLD WAS PROTECTING HER LIFE.

SO FOR ME, I AM PRO-LIFE AND OBVIOUSLY IN LOOKING AT WHAT COULD COME OUT OF THE SUPREME COURT-- I WILL SAY ONE OF THE THINGS WE OUGHT TO FOCUS ON ON THIS IS THE FACT THAT THIS SUPREME COURT LEAK I THINK WAS EGREGIOUS AND THE LINK WITH KIND OF PROBABLY MORE LIBERAL MEDIA, AND I THINK YOU GET A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT RESPONSE WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES THAT WOULD LOOK TO BENEFIT DEMOCRATS, IF YOU WILL, IN AN ELECTION THAN MAYBE THOSE THAT WOULD BENEFIT CONSERVATIVES.

20 >> ON THAT NOTE, SPEAKING OF DEMOCRATS, IF YOU ARE ELECTED AS GOVERNOR, THERE'S A CHANCE THAT YOU MAY BE WORKING WITH DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THEY MAY TAKE-- KEEP THE MAJORITY RATHER IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE.

TELL ME HOW YOUR GOVERNING STYLE WOULD BE THERE?

HOW CAN YOU REACH ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET THINGS DONE IN ALBANY WITH THIS PARTY?

>> YEAH.

WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IN LOOKING AT THE NEW MAPS AND WHERE WE ARE AFTER A VERY LONG PROCESS, OBVIOUSLY, IN GETTING TO WHERE WE ARE, FIRST OFF, I THINK THE SUPERMAJORITY IN THE ASSEMBLY WILL CEASE TO EXIST BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND I THINK-- I THINK THE SUPERMAJORITY ALSO IN THE SENATE WILL COME TO AN END FOR DEMOCRATS AND I'M HOPEFUL, I'M HOPEFUL THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE AN OUTSIDE CHANCE AT WINNING THE STATE SENATE.

I CERTAINLY THINK WITH GIULIANI AT THE TOP OF TICKET, WE CERTAINLY HAVE A GREAT CHANCE TO PICK UP AS MANY SEATS IN BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND THE STATE SENATE.

LOOK, I HAVE SAID ON DAY ONE I WILL SIT DOWN WITH ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS AND CARL HEASTIE OR WHOEVER THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER AND THE LEADER OF THE STATE SENATE IS AT THE TIME, AND I'LL LAY OUT MY TOP PRIORITIES.

I'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM SO THAT WAY, WE CAN HAVE PROGRESS FOR ALL NEW YORKERS.

I CAN TELL YOU ONE PLACE IN PARTICULAR WHERE I 21 AM NOT WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND THAT IS A REPEAL OF BAIL REFORM.

I THINK THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING, DAN, THAT-- YOU KNOW, LOOK, ALL POLITICIANS HAVE NARRATIVES, MYSELF INCLUDED.

WHEN WE LOOK AT BAIL REFORM, WE CAN SAY THIS IS AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER.

NOT BECAUSE I SAY IT IS BUT BECAUSE THE DATA BACKS IT UP.

WHEN WE SEE CRIME SINCE APRIL OF 2019 AND SINCE THIS WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY CUOMO AND SINCE REALLY, AND I KNOW KATHY HOCHUL HAS MADE A COUPLE OF SMALL TWEAKS, BUT FRANKLY, SHE DIDN'T MENTION IN HER STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH, WHICH SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT A PRIORITY, AND SHE STILL DOES NOT WANT TO CONSIDER DANGEROUSNESS, AS WE SAW IN THIS PREVIOUS DEBATE FOR JUDGES, WHAT I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T SEE, YOU KNOW, ISSUES LIKE WE SAW IN THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY SHOOTER WHERE YOU HAD SOMEBODY WHO WAS ARRESTED 19 TIMES.

TO ME, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT STEWART-COUSINS AND CARL HEASTIE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED A FULL REPEAL ON AND ONCE WE HAVE A FULL REPEAL, IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT MISDEMEANORS, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THEN, BUT IT'S A PLACE THAT RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I'M NOT WILLING TO COMPROMISE.

WE DO THAT, THEN CERTAINLY WE CAN TALK ABOUT OTHER ISSUES.

>> LAST QUESTION FOR AND YOU MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO 22 A LOT OF NEW YORKERS.

AS YOU AND I BOTH KNOW PRICES OF REALLY EVERYTHING HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE IN THE PAST YEAR FROM GASOLINE TO THINGS AT THE GROCERY STORE, IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO HELP NEW YORKERS THROUGH THIS REALLY TOUGH TIME?

THE STATE HAS IMPLEMENTED A CUT-- A PARTIAL CUT TO THE STATE'S GAS TAX, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE REALLY HELPING PEOPLE AT THE PUMP ALL THAT MUCH.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S THE OTHER COSTS TOO.

>> WELL, DAN, WHETHER YOU'RE IN ERIE COUNTY, IN MANHATTAN OR HAMILTON COUNTY, YOU HAVE NEW YORKERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE LOOKING TO THIS UPCOMING WINTER AND ASKING THEMSELVES AM I GOING TO HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HEATING MY HOME AND MAYBE BUYING GROCERIES?

THAT TO ME IS UNCONSCIONABLE.

LOOK, I LOOK AT THE MARCELLUS SHALE WE HAVE IN NEW YORK THAT COVERS LITERALLY TWO-THIRDS OF OUR LAND MASS AND THAT'S ENERGY POWER THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO UNLEASHING AS GOVERNOR.

CERTAINLY WORKING TOWARD THAT GOAL.

I THINK WE CAN POINT RIGHT TO-- AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY FEDERAL, BUT I THINK WE CAN POINT RIGHT TO THE FACT THAT IN EARLY 2021, WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, HE SHUT DOWN PROTECTION OF THE KEYSTONE PIPE LINE WHILE APPROVING NORD STREAM 2, AND WE CAN LAY GAS PRICES AT $2 A GALLON, $2 PLUS A GALLON TO NOW IN SOME PLACES IN THE STATE $5 A GALLON AND WHO 23 KNOWS BY THE TIME WE GET TO ELECTION DAY.

I THINK AMERICA NEEDS TO BE ENERGY INDEPENDENT.

I THINK LOOKING AT THE ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY IN WHERE WE ARE FROM A CLEAN TRACKING STANDPOINT AND NATURAL GAS STANDPOINT, WE CAN DO THAT NOW.

LOOK, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.

I'M NOT AGAINST THE IDEA OF RENEWABLES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN USE RENEWABLES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

I JUST NEED TO SEE HOW IT'S FEASIBLE BEFORE WE SHUT OFF THE IDEA OF NATURAL GAS.

IF IT'S FEASIBLE, THEN I'M WILLING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

RIGHT NOW, I'VE SEEN IT FEASIBLE IN VERY SMALL DOSES AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE-- AND I'LL SAY THIS-- NEW YORK THE BEST FRACKING STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ANDREW GIULIANI, REPUBLICAN COMMAND FOR GOVERNOR, THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> DAN, ALWAYS A PLEASURE JOINING YOU.

LOOK FORWARD TO COMING ON AGAIN SOON.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THE PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 28th, BUT WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE FOR THE WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

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