>> ELECTION DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER IN NEW YORK - SO WE'RE CHECKING IN WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS - TO CONSIDER THE MEANING OF THIS SUMMER'S PRIMARIES AND EXAMINE THE TIGHTER THAN EXPECTED RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN THE EMPIRE STATE.

ALL THAT - AND MUCH MORE - COMING UP NEXT, ON CONNECT: NEW YORK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

TODAY'S PROGRAM WILL BE SPLIT IN HALF - AS WE'RE JOINED BY TWO PANELS FROM THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM - TO DISCUSS THIS SUMMER'S PRIMARIES AND THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IN THIS FALL'S ELECTIONS, INCLUDING THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET - BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT KATHY HOCHUL AND REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER LEE ZELDIN.

WE'LL ALSO EXAMINE THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE FOR NEW YORK'S THIRD PARTIES, WHICH - IN SOME CASES - WILL FIND THEMSELVES ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN THIS NOVEMBER.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE JOINED BY A GROUP ROOTING FOR KATHY HOCHUL TO GET A FULL TERM AS GOVERNOR, AND THEY ARE ASSEMBLYMEMBER PAMELA HUNTER, FIRST VICE CHAIR FOR THE NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, PRERNA DEER, SECRETARY FOR THE ONONDAGA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, AND MAURICE BROWN, A MEMBER-LEADER FOR THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

SO WORRY GOING TO START WITH YOU ASSEMBLYMEMBER BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW A TWO-TIME GUEST UNDER THE DAVE LOMBARDO REGIME OF CONNECT NEW YORK.

WE'LL BE A VERY PEACEFUL DICTATORSHIP.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> WHAT DOES KATHY HOCHUL'S WIN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THIS SUMMER MEAN FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE PARTY AND IT'S VALUES OR WAS HER VICTORY MORE OF A STATEMENT ABOUT THE, I GUESS, BENEFITS OF INCUMBENCY?

>> WELL, THERE DEFINITELY IS A BENEFIT TO INCUMBENCY.

IT IS HELPFUL.

YOU GET YOUR NAME RECOGNITION OUT THERE.

YOU DEFINITELY HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE EARNED MEDIA THAN SOMEONE ELSE WOULD BUT PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THAT SHE JUMPED RIGHT IN.

THERE WAS A REALLY TURBULENT TIME THAT THE STATE WAS GOING THROUGH AND SHE WAS ABLE TO JUMP RIGHT IN, DAY ONE, AND WE WERE TACKLING A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET RIGHT IN THERE, GET HER HANDS, ROLL HER SLEEVES UP AND GET IN THERE AND I THINK PEOPLE NOTICED THAT DURING THE PRIMARY AND THEY DEFINITELY WILL NOTICE IT WHEN THEY GET TO THE ELECTION DAY, FOR SURE.

>> MAURICE, THAT ELECTION FEATURED THREE CANDIDATES.

WE HAD TOM SWAZY RUNNING TO THE RIGHT OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL AS WELL AS JUMANI WILLIAMS RUNNING TO THE LEFT.

SHOULD THIS PRIMARY RESULT WHERE KATHY HOCHUL GOT ABOUT 68% OF THE PRIMARY VOTE BE A REPUDIATION OF THE FAR LEFT EVER PARTY AS WELL AS THE MODERATE OR CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS OF THE PARTY?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WOULD I VIEW IT THAT WAY.

THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY WE SUPPORTED JUMANI WILLIAMS IN THE PRIMARY BUT WE-- JUMANI CARRIED OUR VALUES.

KATHY SUPPORTED OUR VALUES TO AN EXTENT.

WHERE WE DISAGREED, THE DISAGREEMENTS WERE NOT BIG ENOUGH THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT HER IN THE GENERAL.

WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT HER IN THE GENERAL.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO STOP LEE ZELDIN AND COME TOGETHER AS PROGRESSIVES TO MAKE SURE OUR VALUES ARE PUT INTO LEGISLATION AND EVENTUALLY INTO LAW.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE PRIMARY RESULT, WHICH EVER WAY IT GOES, WE ARE-- WHICH EVER WAY IT WENT, WE ARE STILL FIGHTING TO GET OUR VALUES.

>> PRERNA, WHAT DOES THE WIN BY HOCHUL MEAN IN TERMS OF AN UPSTATE PERSPECTIVE.

FAST FORWARD TO NOVEMBER, SPOILER ALERT, GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO CARRY THE UPSTATE REGION BUT SHE OBVIOUSLY DID VERY WELL UPSTATE IN THE PRIMARY.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE UPSTATE DEMOCRATS AND HOW THEY VIEW THIS ELECTION AND HOW THEY VIEW THE PRIMARY?

>> DEFINITELY.

I THINK ONE OF THE BENEFITS NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE POLLING BECAUSE YOU CAN ASK ANYONE A QUESTION AND GET A SLANT.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE QUESTION IS WORDED.

>> YOU DON'T THINK OUR PUBLIC POLLSTERS ARE TRYING TO GET THE MOST ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE ELECTION.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

YOU CALL ME AND SAY HOW YOU DOING TODAY?

I'M HAVING A GREAT DAY.

I'M DOING GOOD.

YOU CALL ME TOMORROW, I'M NOT FEELING SO GOOD, MAYBE MY ISSUE FROM TODAY IS NOT MY ISSUE FOR TOMORROW.

BUT GENERALLY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR POCKETBOOK.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THROUGH LIFE IN GENERAL.

AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT IS ANY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PRIMARIES AND IF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY CLOSE, I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO WIN HANDEDLY IN NOVEMBER.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HEAR THEM TALKING ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PAST TRUMP'S ELECTION AND WHERE YOU SAW PEOPLE JUST CONSTANTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, EVERYWHERE AND JUST LIKE IN YOUR FACE.

THAT HASN'T CHANGED BUT I THINK BECAUSE IT IS JUST SO OVERWHELMING FOR PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY.

BUT THE NASTINESS, PEOPLE KEEP THAT TO THEMSELVES BUT THEY'LL COME OUT AND THEY WILL VOTE.

>> WE MENTIONED THOSE POCKETBOOK ISSUES AND POLLING, IF WE ARE GOING TO GIVE IT ANY CREDENCE, IDENTIFIED COST OF LIVING, ECONOMY, POCKETBOOK ISSUES AS THE SECOND BIGGEST ISSUE FOR VOTERS THIS NOVEMBER, AND THROUGH THAT LENS THEN, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE GOVERNOR AS WELL AS DEMOCRATS UP AND DOWN THE TICKET ARE DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB RELAYING A MESSAGE ON THOSE ISSUES OR ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL THAT REPUBLICANS ARE WINNING THE RHETORICAL BATTLE?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE WINNING AT ALL.

YOU CAN'T JUST SAY CUT SPENDING BECAUSE I WILL CHALLENGE YOU AND SAY WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CUT?

HEALTHCARE?

LONG-TERM CARE?

ARE YOU GOING TO CUT THE POLICE?

ARE YOU GOING TO CUT EDUCATION.

TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO CUT AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SUPPLANT HOW WE GET THERE?

BUT I DO THINK WHAT WE DID WITH THE GAS TAX WAS INSTRUMENTAL.

SAW LAPPED, DEMOCRATS PASSED THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

WE PASSED THE CHIPS ACT.

MICRON IS INVESTED HUGE HERE.

THERE IS MANY THINGS TO BE HOPEFUL ABOUT GOING FORWARD.

WE DID A LOT OF TAX RELIEF FOR PEOPLE.

SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE COMING AND DEMOCRATS DID THAT.

DEMOCRATS PASSED THOSE BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP IN THE POCKET GOOK FOR NEW YORKERS JUST TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE UPSTATE AND DOWNSTATE DIVIDE.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS DELIVERED FOR UPSTATE.

AL STIRPE HAS DELIVERED FOR UPSTATE.

PAM HUNTER, MICRON DIDN'T COME HERE BY ACCIDENT.

FOLKS PUT WORK IN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND I THINK EVERYDAY PEOPLE SEE THAT WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW JOB FOR THEMSELVES OR BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE NEW INVESTMENT INTO OUR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE CHANGE PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT IT'S NOT JUST NEGATIVE IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT WE CAN'T DO AND IT'S MORE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN ALBANY.

>> COUNTY POINT ON THOSE ECONOMIC TRENDS THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH MICRON IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE LIVING THROUGH RECORD LEVELS OF INFLATION, AT LEAST IN MY LIFETIME AND NEW YORK'S ECONOMY HAS NOT RECOVERED THE SAME WAY THAT OTHER STATES HAVE FROM THE PANDEMIC.

WHY WON'T THAT BE ON THE MIND OF VOTERS WHEN THEY COME TO VOTE THIS FALL AND IF IT IS, HOW IS THAT GOOD FOR DEMOCRATS?

>> SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT DATA YOU LOOKED AT.

I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHERE NEW YORK COMPARES WITH OTHER STATES.

>> WE HAVE NOT BOUNCED BACK THE SAME WAY AND OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE LAGS BEHIND PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> ARE WE LIKE THE LOWEST IN THE NATION?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT BUT WE ARE NOT FIRST.

>> YES, AND YOU KNOW, SOMEONE HAS TO BE FIRST AND IT MAY NOT BE US.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

IF YOU LOOK AT INFLATION, IT'S A WORLDWIDE TREND.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING ISOLATED IN NEW YORK STATE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN AND WE ARE TAKING THOSE.

LIKE WE ARE DOING THOSE STEPS.

IT'S VERY EASY TO JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, NO, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE HAPPENING, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

AND WE ARE DOING THOSE THINGS WITH THE GAS TAX, MICRON COMING TO CENTRAL NEW YORK.

IT IS ABOUT TAKING STEPS IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO AND I THINK WE ARE TAKING THE STEPS.

>> I'VE GOT TO AGREE WITH MAURICE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRE-COVID AND PRE-PANDEMIC WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

TALK TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER, OUR SALES TAX RECEIPTS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF.

THE HOTEL OWNER I WAS TALKING TO.

HE SAID HIS OCCUPANCY RATE, I'M EMBARRASSED TO SAY BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE TOP IN THE COUNTY AND HE SAID THE PEOPLE ARE BOOKING ROOMS THIS ALL GOES TO THE STATE SALES TAX.

WHERE YOU MIGHT NOT SEE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SOME SOME EARSZ YOU SEE SOME RESTAURANTS CLOSING, YOU SEE OTHERS OPENING EVERY SINGLE DAY SO I THIS I WE THEY'D TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.

YOU HAVE TO PEEL BACK FROM THE RHETORIC AND SOUNDBITES AND GET TO FACTUAL BECAUSE THE CONTROVERSIAL AND EVEN NEW YORK CITY SAYS-- COMPTROLLER AND NEW YORK CITY SAYS THE AMOUNTS THEY ARE RECEIVING IN SALES TAX IS ENORMOUS AND THAT HELPS ALL OF US.

>> PRERNA, YOU REPRESENT ONONDAGA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AND ONONDAGA COUNTY HAS A MIX OF USUAL URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.

AS A RESULT YOU HAVE A PRETTY DIVERSE SET OF POLITICAL VIEWS HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU TO MAKE HEADWAY OUTSIDE THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND SOME OF THE MORE POPULOUS SUBURBS.

>> YEAH, SO I DO THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, THERE ARE MORE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE REGISTERED THAN THERE ARE REPUBLICANS BUT THE BIGGEST TINGE IS THING IS TURNOUT.

WE NEED DEMOCRATS TO COME OUT AND VOTE.

THAT'S HOW WE WIN THOSE SEATS.

YOU KNOW, SO I THINK IT'S REALLY CRUCIAL THAT WE AS DEMOCRATS LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE IN THE CITY WANT AS WELL AS THE SUBURBS.

I'M FROM THE TOWN OF MANLIUS AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE MANLIUS DEMOCRATS AS WELL AND WE WERE ABLE TO FLIP OUR TOWN WITHIN ABOUT FIVE YEARS OR SO FROM RED TO BLUE AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE WENT DOOR TO DOOR AND LISTENED TO WHAT PEOPLE WANT IN OUR SUBURBAN AREA.

PARTS OF MANLIUS ARE RURAL.

WE WENT TO THOSE DOORS AS WELL.

SO IT'S REALLY JUST ABOUT LISTENING TO PEOPLE.

MAKING SURE WE ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR NEED ARE, WHAT THEIR DAY TO DAY LOOKS LIKE.

HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPACTS THEM BUT EVEN HOW, YOU KNOW, STATE GOVERNMENT AFFECTS THEM.

AND YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT EVEN ON THE LOCAL LEVEL WHEN YOU ARE KNOCKING ON DOORS.

PEOPLE WILL TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THERE TO TALK ABOUT TOWN BOARD RACES SO IT VARIES, ESPECIALLY ON THE COUNTY LEVEL.

IT VARIES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

>> I THINK I READ THAT IN 2019 YOU GOT INSPIRED BY BERNIE SANDERS SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT VOTERS IN 2022 WHO MIGHT NOT ALREADY BE ENGAGED IN CANDIDATES, ARE THERE CANDIDATES RUNNING THAT YOU THINK WILL INSPIRE PEOPLE TO TURN OUT TO VOTE AND VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS WHETHER IT'S GOVERNOR HOCHUL OR FURTHER DOWN THE BALLOT OR THIS IS A LACKLUSTER SAID OF CANDIDATES PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED.

>> I THINK THEY'RE REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES OVERALL.

>> WHY?

>> FOR MANY REASONS WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNOR HOCHUL OR FRANCIS CANOLE IN NEW YORK 22, WE NEED CANDIDATES ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, STATE LEVEL AND LOCAL LEVEL WHO CARE ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT AMERICANS CARE ABOUT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

WE NEED PEOPLE IN OFFICE WHO ARE LOOKING OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN GET PREGNANT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THOSE RIGHTS AND THOSE ARE THE CANDIDATES WHO WILL DO THAT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE ON THE BALLOT ABSOLUTELY AND THAT'S SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE CARE ABOUT NOT JUST WOMEN.

BUT EVERYONE.

WHEN I SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS IS POLLING AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T VALUE THE POLLING IN THE GROUP.

SIENNA RESEARCH HAD ABORTION AS THE 6% OF VOTERS IDENTIFIED AS THEIR TOP ISSUE FOR NOVEMBER.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A PRESSING CONCERN FOR VOTERS THIS FALL.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

JUST FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE TALKING TO PEOPLE, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT THE WORLD IS RIGHT NOW I'M IN MY EARLY 30S AND THERE ARE PEOPLE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE A FAMILY BASED OFF OF MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, NOT JUST REPRODUCTIVE BUT CLIMATE CHANGE, WHAT KIND OF WORLD ARE WE LEAVING FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO INHERIT FROM US.

MY HUSBAND AND I DEBATED WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A FAMILY.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY I'M PREGNANT RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE EXPECTING OUR SON IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO PUT THE WORK IN, PUT OUR HEADS DOWN, PUT IN THE WORK IN OUR SMALL TOWN AND EXPANDED THAT TO THE COUNTY AS WELL AS HELPED ON CONGRESSIONAL RACES, STATE RACES AND ALL OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE REALLY DO CARE ABOUT.

IT IMPACTS SO MANY FACETS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION BEING ABLE TO VOTE.

THEY'RE LOOKING WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE AS WELL SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE WORKING FAMILIES ULTIMATELY ENDORSED KATHY HOCHUL ON THE BALLOT LINE.

IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO ENSURE THAT PROGRESSIVE VOTERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT VOTING FOR HER AND GO AND DO TURN UP TO VOTE OPPOSED TO SITTING ON THEIR HANDS UNTIL 2024?

>> YES, SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL BE ENOUGH BUT AS PRERNA MENTIONED, OUR ISSUES ARE ON THE BALLOT.

A VOTE FOR THE FAMILY PARTIES LINE IS A VOTE FOR FAIR ELECTIONS, A VOTE TO GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS.

IT'S A VOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, WE WORKED TO, YOU KNOW, BREAK UP THE LOG JAM IN THE SENATE AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, RECORD LEVELS OF FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THESE VALUES ARE MET BECAUSE THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY.

SO, YES, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE TO MEET 130,000 VOTES STATEWIDE ON THE GOVERNOR'S LINE.

>> YOU HAVE TO RETAIN YOUR AUTOMATIC BALLOT STATUS.

>> 2% OR 130,000, WHICH EVER IS HIGHER.

WE ARE CONFIDENT WE ARE GOING GO WAY PAST THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VOTING THEIR VALUES.

PEOPLE WANT TO SEE FULLY FUNDED SCHOOLS.

PEOPLE WANT CLEAN AIR.

PEOPLE WANT THE BOND ACT.

PEOPLE WANT THESE THINGS AND WE ARE THE PARTY THAT HAS BEEN DELIVERING AND YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATS PARTY, WE ARE GOING TO WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO GET THINGS DONE AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.

>> ASSEMBLYMEMBER, IF THE GOVERNOR WINS BY ONE POINT OR 20 POINTS, DOES THAT MATTERS FOR SAY THE DIRECTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND DOES IT MATTER FOR WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 2023 IN TERMS OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> WELL, MAYBE WE SHOULD POLL THAT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT LOOKS I DO THINK I WANT TO GO BACK TO POLLING BECAUSE IT'S AID GUIDELINE BUT IT SHOULD NOT RULE HOW ONE CONDUCTS THEIR CAMPAIGN AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A KNEE JERK REACTION FOR ANY CA IT TO FLIP THEIR CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF THE POLLS BECAUSE FOR THE TWO WEEKS THAT WE HEARD IT'S REALLY CLOSE ANOTHER POLL CAME OUT AND SAID IT'S LIKE 11 POINTS SO I THINK HAVE YOU TO STAY THE COURSE AND BE VIEW TO YOUR MESSAGE AND CAMPAIGN IT CAN'T BE THAT ARE WE ARE GOING TO QUICKLY PIVOT AND GO TO SOMETHING ELSE I WANTED TO GO TO ONE OF THE COMMENTS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND THE 6% OF FOLKS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT AND BE VERY CLEAR.

6% OUT OF 20 MILLION PEOPLE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE SOMEONE HAVING AN ABORTION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT SOMEONE'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS IN NEW YORK STATE TO SAY YOU CHOOSE.

WE ARE NOT SAYING TO GO DO IT.

DON'T DO IT.

IT'S YOUR CHOICE.

BUT IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME WHEN I HEAR A GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE LEE ZELDIN SAY I WON'T ROLL ANYTHING BACK.

BUT HE DIDN'T VOTE TO PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS WHEN HE IS IN CONGRESS AND WE HAVE SEEN SUPREME COURT JUSTICES GO SIT IN THEIR NOMINATIONS AND SAY THEY WOULDN'T DO SOMETHING AND LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CAME BACK AND DID THE VERY THING THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO SO WHY SHOULD WE TRUST SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT PUT FORWARD A CONVERSATION ABOUT SAYING HE WOULD PROTECT AND HAS AGREED WITH THE SUPREME COURT AND NOW IS SAYING, YOU KNOW SOMETHING, I WON'T ROLL IT BACK.

HOW DO YOU TRUST THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT HAPPENING AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT SOMEONE'S RECORD YOU HAVE TO SEE WAS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

>> DOES THAT MATTER THOUGH?

OBVIOUSLY THIS MATTERS-- IT-- ABORTION IS AN ISSUE THAT MATTERS IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE BUT I THINK THE REASON I BRING UP 6% IS THAT IT SHOWS IT IS NOT NECESSARILY TOP OF MIND FOR VOTERS.

SO WHEN YOU SPEAK PASSIONATELY ABOUT IT FOR THAT 6%, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY GETTING RILED UP OR, YOU KNOW, OPPOSING WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW FROM THAT 6% HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE ISSUE.

>> LET'S GO TO THE JANUARY 6 ISSUE.

>> IS IT RIGHT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SEND SO MUCH TIME ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION CONSIDERING HOW LOW IT POLLS.

CRIME IN THE POLL IS FIRST, PLURALITY WITH 28%.

ONLY RECENTLY HAVE WE HAD A REAL STRONG FOCUS ON THE ISSUE, POTENTIALLY A KNEE JERK REACTION OF THE TIGHTENING OF POLLS.

IS IT RIGHT TO MEET VOTERS WHERE THEY SAY THEY ARE AND HAS THE GOVERNOR DONE THAT ENOUGH ON TIME.

>> I THINK SHE HAS DONE IT ENOUGH AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SAYING SOMETHING COMPARED TO DOING SOMETHING.

>> YOU NEED TO REMIND PEOPLE.

MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT ENGAGED.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT TAKES DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLYMEMBERS, SHE HAS A CADRE OF PEOPLE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

IT'S UP TO MAURICE, PRERNA AND TO ME AND THE REST OF THE DEMOCRATS TO GET OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT MEGSAGE, IT IS IT HAPPENING.

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY HAPPENING.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT BAIL REFORM ALL DAYLON AND I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE SITTING IN HERE AS WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS RELATIVE TO THAT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION COMING OUT IS FACTUAL, NOT RHETORIC THE BILLS PEOPLE PASS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY MEAN BECAUSE I KNOW AS A PHENOMENONLY MEMBER THAT CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT CALLING ME ABOUT CRIME.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT AND WE TRACK EVERYTHING.

BUT I HAVE A LETTER SITTING ON MY DESK THAT I KEEP FROM A PLID WILL SCHOOL STUDENT WHO-- FROM A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WHO SAID I AM CONCERNED GOING TO SCHOOL THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SHOT UP IN MY SCHOOL.

THE BILLS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, PASSED THIS YEAR, RELATIVE TO RED FLAGS, RELATIVE TO SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, ARE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT THE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT KNOWING THAT WE PASS THINGS THAT WILL PROTECT THEIR LIVES.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WILL CARRY THAT MESSAGE AND OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE CARRYING AS WELL.

>> MAURICE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE ELECTION, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

ARE YOU NERVOUS AT ALL ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF CANDIDATES LIKE THE GOVERNOR TO SECURE VICTORIES OR DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT?

>> I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT.

TO ADD ON TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER HUNTER, YOU SAID ABORTION IS NOT THE FOLKS TOP ISSUES BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP ISSUES, DEMOCRATS HAVE DELIVERED ON THE ISSUES.

SO THE MESSAGING WE HAVE TO WORK ON IT THAT'S WHY THE WORKING FAMILY PARTIES, WE ARE BIG ON VALUES, GOING TO TALK ABOUT TAXING ULTRAWEALTHY, SAFE HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT FOLKS TOP ISSUES, IF FOLKS DO THEIR RESEARCH, WE HAVE DELIVERED ON THOSE THINGS.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS GOTTEN THINGS DONE MORE THAN RHETORIC LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S EASY TO TEAR IT DOWN BUT WHAT HAVE YOU BUILT TO SUPPORT YOUR RHETORIC AND IF IT'S NOTHING, VOTERS NEED TO KNOW THAT.

WE HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT.

AND IF THE ANSWER IS YES, I HAVE DONE SOMETHING ON CRIME, I HAVE PASSED RED FLAG BILLS OR HAVE I DONE SOMETHING ON THE GAS PRICES WITH THE GAS TAX, IF THE ANSWER IS YES THEN WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THAT, TOO IT HAS TO GO BOTH WAYS.

>> WHAT DOES THE GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT LOOK LIKE DOWN THE STRETCH?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO BE KNOCKING ON DOORS INCESSANTLY?

CAN YOU PEEL BACK WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC EFFORT LOOKS LIKE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK IN THE FINAL DAYS?

>> SO WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG COORDINATED CAMPAIGN BETWEEN FRANCIS CANOLE'S CAMPAIGN AND THE NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATS WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL AND HELPING CA ET CETERA FROM THE TOP DOWN EVEN ON THE TOWN LEVEL KNOCKING ON DOORS, PHONE BANKING WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES THIS TIME AROUND WHICH FEELS GREAT.

WE WILL BE KNOCKING ON DOORS, MAKING PHONE CALLS, DROPPING LITERATURE, GIVING RIDES TO PEOPLE TO THE POLLS, SO A LOT OF STUFF WE HAVE DONE BEFORE BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM AND PEOPLE BEHIND US BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, TOO SO THAT HELPS.

>> THAT RACE YOU MENTIONED NY-22 IS ONE DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD THEIR EYES ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS IN REPUBLICAN HANDS EVEN THOUGH DEMOCRATS THEORETICALLY ARE WELL SITUATED TO WIN IT BASED ON THE ENROLLMENT.

DO YOU FEEL AS YOU HEAD INTO 2022 THAT YOU COULD BE CHARLIE BROWN WITH THE FOOTBALL TRYING TO KICK IT AND LUCY IS GOING TO RIP IT AWAY AT THE LAST SECOND?

OR IS THERE A REASON TO THINK THAT THIS YEAR COULD BE A DIFFERENT FOR DEMOCRATS WITH FRANCIS?

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS WITH FRANK CANOLE.

I THINK THAT HE HAS SHOWN THAT HE IS WILLING TO WORK WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKED WHEN CONGRESSMAN KATKO WAS IN OFFICE.

AND I THINK HE IS WILLING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE BUT HE IS STILL WILLING TO STICK TO HIS VALUES AND DELIVER ON WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE PROMISING AS WELL SO I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT.

>> FINALLY ASSEMBLYMEMBER, ARE YOU ANTICIPATING A LONG NIGHT ON ELECTION DAY OR WILL PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF BE ABLE TO FILE STORIES, YOU KNOW, 10:00, 11:00 AT NIGHT WITH CONFIDENCE?

>> WELL, I THINK BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE ELECTION REFORMS THAT WE HAVE PASSED, THAT INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE BIG LOCK BOXES TO COME, YOU KNOW, BACK AND THE NEW VOTING MACHINES THAT WE HAVE REALLY UPLOADING THE INFORMATION IS PRETTY SEAMLESS AND EASY AND NOW, BECAUSE OF WHAT PS WITH THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECLARE WINNERS PRETTY EASILY DEPENDING ON HOW MANY BALLOTS ARE STILL OUTSTANDING THAT HAVEN'T BEEN RECOGNIZED ON ELECTION DAY BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT, 9:00 POLLS CLOSE.

EVERYTHING IS DIGITAL NOW SO WITHIN TWO HOURS I DONE THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE 2:00 IN THE MORNING WAITING TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.

I THINK BY 11:00 NEWS WE SHOULD BE READY TO GO.

I'M HOPEFUL.

>> FROM YOUR LIPS TO GOD'S EARS.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS PANEL.

MY THANKS TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER PAMELA HUNTER PRERNA DEER AND MAURICE BROWN AND WE'LL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THIS YEAR NEW YORKERS WILL ONLY HAVE TWO CHOICES IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR, RARITY IN THE EMPIRE STATE WHICH HAS A HISTORY OF FIELDING THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES.

OUR SHOW PRODUCER SUSAN BITTER HAS THAT STORY.

>> OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES TO HOW THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES CAN GET ON THE BALLOT AND THE THRESH THRESHOLD THEY HAD HAD MEET IN PAST ELECTIONS AND SIGNATURES TO GET SPECIFIC ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE OF THE GREEN PARTY, LIB TEARIAN PARTY, UNABLE TO, AT THIS POINT, BE ABLE TO MEET THE THRESHOLD TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

>> THERE ARE NO REAL THIRD PARTIES IN THE BALLOT IN NEW YORK STATE FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

YOU HAVE PARTIES LIKE WORKING FAMILIES AND CONSERVATIVES BUT UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION, IT'S BECOME VERY DIFFICULT FOR THIRD PARTIES IN NEW YORK WHAT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM.

AS A CONSEQUENCE, CUOMO SAID IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE ALL OF OF THESE PARTIES ON THE BALLOT.

>> CUOMO PUBLICLY SAID THAT WITH THE NEW LAWS INCREASING UNNNING OF CAMPAIGNS, THE NEEDED TO MAKE THE THRESHOLD HIGHER FOR THIRD PARTIES TO QUALIFY BECAUSE THEY WOULD ALSO QUALIFY FOR PUBLIC FINANCING.

>> THEY TRIPLED THE AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES, MOVED THE SIX WEEK PETITIONING PERIOD UP TO THE SPRING THEREFORE GIVING US THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO COLLECT IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME BUT IN A LESS PRODUCTIVE PERIOD OF TIME FOR US NOT ONLY DID THEY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO GAIN BALLOT ACCESS, YOU HAVE TO ALMOST TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF VOTES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN BALLOT ACCESS.

OUR CANDIDATES AND OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE GOTTEN THAT NUMBER BUT GETTING THE VALID SIGNATURES IS AN ALMOST INSUR SURMOUNTABLE TASK.

>> IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS IN THE WORLD TO GET ON.

WE LOOK AT PUTIN'S RUSSIA.

THEY ONLY NEED 15,000 SIGNATURES TO GET ON THE BALLOT FOR STATEWIDE ELECTIONS AND WE ONLY HAVE 42 DAYS TO DO THAT.

>> NO CANDIDATE REACHED THAT THRESH THEY WILLED THIS YEAR.

ONLY TWO CANDIDATES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS IN NEW YORK STATE.

THIS ACTION, CHANGING THE RULES BASICALLY MEANS THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE THRESHOLDS ARE PEOPLE WITH MONEY, INCUMBENTS OR PEOPLE FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE POLITICAL PARTIES THAT ARE ALREADY IN POWER HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN WITH STAND THE NEW RULES.

WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE RESOURCES OR THE BODIES OR THE MONEY.

>> TO TRY TO MAKE THIS WORK, WE DROPPED HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND WENT TO COURT TO SUE TO TRY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

WE SUED AT STATE AND FEDERAL COURT.

WE LOST AND APPEALED AND SPENT LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET ON THE BALLOT AND WE FAILED AT EVERY ATTEMPT.

I THINK THE LOSS WAS NINE TIMES IN NINE SEPARATE COURTS.

>> WE HAVE A COURT CASE WORKING WITH THE LIBERTARIANS HARMED BY THIS LAW, RIGHT NOW IT'S IN FRONT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS IN NEW YORK.

AND WE ARE ARGUING ON FIRST AND 14th AMENDMENT GROUNDS THAT IT VIOLATES OUR RIGHTS.

WE ARE DRAFTING AND ENCOURAGING LEGISLATORS TO SPONSOR FAIR BALLOT BILL.

NOT ONLY WOULD IT REVERSE THE CHANGES MADE IN 2020 TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PARTIES AND CANDIDATES TO GET ON THE BALLOT BUT MAKE NEW YORK STATE A GOLD STANDARD FOR BALLOTED ACCESS.

>> THERE IS NOT A LOT OF INCENTIVE FOR THIRD PARTIES TO TO FORMULATE AND BE COMPETITIVE OVER TIME BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO WIN POLITICAL PARTY AND THAT'S A SYSTEMIC ISSUE IN THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT.

OUR SYSTEM IS NOT DESIGNED FOR THIRD PARTIES TO DO WELL UNLIKE JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER WESTERN DEMOCRACY.

>> THE FUTURE OF MINOR PARTIES IS IN PERIL RIGHT NOW AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A ONE PARTY STATE WHO HAS DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE ONE OPPONENT, COMPETITION OF ONE OPPOSED TO COMPETITION OF MANY.

>> IN THE UNITED STATES WE OFTEN TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT THIRD PARTIES ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

CANDIDATE SUPPRESSION AND PARTY SUPPRESSION IS A FORM OF VOTER SUPPRESSION SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY LOUD ABOUT SAYING YOU CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT ONE WITHOUT DEALING WITH THE OTHER.

>> THE PEOPLE IN POWER NOW, I KNOW YOU VERY OFTEN TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE DEMOCRACY AND, YOU KNOW, ELECTION LAW AND RULES AND THINGS OF THAT SUCH, FAIRNESS, BUT THE DEMOCRATS THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO THROW THE GREEN PARTY OFF AND THE REPUBLICANS THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO THROW THE LIB PERRIANS OFF.

THE TWO PARTIES WHO CLAIM THEY CARE ABOUT NEW YORK AND ELECTION INTEGRITY AND VOTER RIGHTS, BOTH WENT OUT OF THEIR WAS I TO ELIMINATE BOTH.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

I FEEL LIKE THE SYSTEM IS UNFAIR TO MINOR PARTIES AND HAS BASICALLY HAS ALLOWED TO TWO MAJOR PARTIES TO INSULATE THEMSELVES FROM COMPETITION.

>> EVEN IF VOTERS MAY NOT AGREE WITH THE THIRD PARTY PLATFORMS, I THINK THEY WOULD AGREE WITH HAVING MORE CHOICES AT THE BALLOT ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY PEOPLE UPSET ABOUT THE WAY POLITICS ARE TODAY, BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES.

SO MANY PEOPLE VOTE FOR THE LESSER EVIL.

SO MANY PEOPLE WHAT THEY PERCEIVE IS THE LESSER EVIL BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A CHOICE.

>> I DON'T THINK THE POPULOUS OF NEW YORK STATE OR THE POPULOUS OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY DISTRICT IN GENERAL CAN FIT INTO TWO BOXES.

I THINK THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO SOLUTIONS.

THE ABILITY FOR ME TO VOICE A PUBLIC PROTEST THROUGH THE ELECTION SYSTEM WITHOUT THOSE MINOR PARTIES.

>> THIRD PARTIES ON THE BALLOT GIVES VOTERS MORE CHOICE AND MAKES US AN ACTUAL DEMOCRACY LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE HAVE MANY CHOICES.

WE COULD BE A WORLD LEADER HERE IN NEW YORK IN ACCESS TO THE BALLOT ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY.

THERE IS NO REASON WE CAN'T DO THAT WE ARE A STATE WITH ALMOST 20 MILLION PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION.

>> I THINK THIRD PARTIES PROVIDE CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE EVENTS THAT MAYBE THE MAJOR PARTIES ARE NOT REPRESENTING.

AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK IT IS VERY CONFUSING ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN NEW YORK STATE THIS YEAR'S ELECTION LAW IS 858 PAGES.

I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT NOT ONLY FOR POLITICAL PARTIES BUT CITIZENS AND OBSERVERS TO NAVIGATE WHAT IS GOING ON AND THE MORE WE CAN MAKE IT EASIER AND SIMPLER TORE PEOPLE TO GET ON THE BALLOT AND VOTE, THE BETTER.

>> AS A PERSONAL NOTE, WRITE IN LARRY SHARP.

IF THE GREEN PARTY IS YOUR THING, WRITE IN HOWIE HAWKINS.

WRITE IN SOMEBODY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WILL TRIGGER CHANGE WITHIN THE PARTY BUT ENOUGH PUBLIC AWARENESS BECOMES AVAILABLE, CHANGE ONLY HAPPENS IN NEW YORK WHEN THE PEOPLE CHANGE IT.

>> NOW WE ARE SHIFTING BACK TO THE MAJOR PARTIES FOR THE REST OF THE SHOW, HEARING FROM SUPPORTERS OF LEE ZELDIN'S CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR AND JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY BENEDICTE DORAN.

CHAIR OF THE ONONDAGA COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE AND VINCE CASALE, CO-OWNER OF THE CASALE GROUP.

THINKING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WE HAD FOUR CANDIDATES AND SOME WERE DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE OF HARRY WILSON WHO WAS MORE MODERATE THAN THE REST OF THE FIELD WHAT SHOULD WE GLEAN FROM THE VICTORY OF LEE ZELDIN, HE GOT NEARLY 50%.

DOES THAT SIGNIFICANT ANY FOO I THAT REPUBLICANS WERE IN LINE WITH HIS LESSAGE OR WHAT HE REPRESENTS OR WAS THIS ABOUT HIS CHANCES TO WIN IN NOVEMBER WHAT DO YOU TAKE AWAY FROM HIS VICTORY.

>> I GIVE SOME OF THE CREDIT TO THE G.O.P.

STATE CHAIRMAN WHO DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE A REAL RUN FOR THE SEAT THIS YEAR AND DECIDED TO SECT OUR CANDIDATE EARLY AND GET NAME RECOGNITION OUT THERE SO LEE CAMPAIGNED FOR A REALLY LONG TIME BEFORE WE GOT TO THE PRIMARY AND HE WAS WELL KNOWN TO THE VOTERS AND HE HAD THE RIGHT MESSAGE.

HE WORKED TIRELESSLY AND WAS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE HE HAD THE RIGHT MESSAGE, THE RIGHT FUNDING AND WORKED TIRELESSLY.

>> DO YOU THINK IT WAS A STRATEGIC CHOICE FOR SOME VOTERS WHO SAW HIM AS SOMEONE AT IT FOR A WHILE AND THEREFORE HAD BUILT UP A GOOD GROUND GAME THAT COULD PAY OFF IN NOVEMBER?

>> YES.

HE DID.

HE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT THAT HE BUILT UP.

HE WORKED AT IT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

AND SO WE HAD THE GROUND GAME AND THE MESSAGE.

>> VIPS THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN REPUBLICANS TRY TO CONSOLIDATE AROUND A GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

IN 2010 RICK WAS THE ANOINTED ONE.

HE DID NOT EMERGE AS THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE REPUBLICANS THAT YEAR, WHY DO YOU THINK THIS TIME WAS DIFFERENT 12 YEARS LATER THAT MADE IT SO THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT CHOICE WAS THE CANDIDATE.

>> I THINK THE STATE PARTY DID A GOOD JOB OF GETTING PARTY OUT EARLY TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL CANDIDATES OUT THERE, LEE ZELDIN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE TIMEFRAME AND GETTING OUT THERE EARLY ENOUGH THAT HE WAS ABLE TO NOT JUST BE OUT THERE BUT GARNER SUPPORT FROM THE RANK AND FILE REPUBLICANS IN THE PARTY AND THEN BE ABLE TO TURN THAT TO THE RANK AND FILE REPUBLICANS WHO WERE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AS VOTERS.

AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR, IT IS A CREDIT TO THE CHAIRMAN NICK LANGWORTHY AND THE PARTY, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CHOOSE, THE PARTY WAS ABLE TO CHOOSE WHO THEY BELIEVED WAS THE BEST CANDIDATE GOING FORWARD AND THEN OPEN IT UP IN A PRIMARY SITUATION TO THE ENTIRE VOTING REPUBLICAN VOTING-- >> ELECTORATE.

>> ELECTORATE AND HAVE THE BEST CANDIDATE EMERGE OUT OF THAT PROCESS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IDEA ABOUT STRATEGICKY PORTRAYED BY WILL FERRELL WITH THEIR VOTE.

BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE ELECTORATE AS A WHOLE IN NEW YORK, NOT JUST THE PRIMARY, DID IT MAKE SENSE FOR REPUBLICANS TO GRAVITATE TOWARD A CANDIDATE THEY WERE CLEARLY EXCITED ABOUT OPPOSED TO SOMEONE LIKE HARRY WILSON WHO HAS SOME MODERATE CREDENTIALS THAT HE WASN'T NECESSARILY HIGHLIGHTING IN THE RACE BUT WOULD BE HIGHLIGHTING IN A GENERAL ELECTION?

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT AND REALLY BOTH PARTIES IN NEW YORK STATE I SEE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AN IDENTITY CRISIS BUT WHERE YOUR BASE VALUES ARE COMING FROM IN TERMS OF THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO YOUR VOTERS AND WE COULD ARGUE ALL DAY SHOULD THE REPUBLICANS BE RUNNING SOMEBODY WHO IS MORE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE OR MODERATE TO PICK UP THOSE INDEPENDENT TYPE VOTES, BUTS A CANDIDATE AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TYPE OF CANDIDATE, IT'S IF THE CANDIDATE CAN MAKE THE VALUE CONNECTIONS TO THE VOTER.

AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS LISTEN, I WORKED ON THE 2018 MARK MOLINARO GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN AND WHAT A MONUMENTAL SHIFT WE ARE SEEING IN WHAT VOTERS FIND IMPORTANT FROM FOUR YEARS AGO TO TODAY.

THE ISSUES HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED.

YOU DON'T HAVE A FIGURE LIKE ANDREW CUOMO AS THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR WITH ALL KINDS OF MONEY AND ALL KINDS OF POWER AND A GUY WHO TRULY IS A POLITICAL ANIMAL.

THAT HAS SHIFTED THE DYNAMIC IN TERMS OF THE LANDSCAPE THAT NOW REPUBLICANS ARE RUNNING IN AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUES OUT THERE TOP ISSUE ON EVERYONE'S MIND REGARDLESS OF PARTY IS THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION AND THE SECONDARY ISSUES THIS YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS ARE HITTING CRIME THINGS LIKE EDUCATION, SECOND AMENDMENT IS BECOMING A GROWING ISSUE AND WHAT I THINK THE PARTY HAS DONE IS WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES, THEY SAY WHO IS BEST GOING TO CARRY THE WATER OF OUR VALUES INTO THAT ELECTION AND IT ALL KALE TOGETHER AS A PERFECT STORM THAT MADE LEE ZELDIN A FORMIDABLE AND A CANDIDATE WHO CAN POTENTIALLY PULL OFF A VICTORY.

>> VINCE MENTIONS THE ISSUE OF CRIME, COST OF LIVING, INFLATION AND ECONOMY WHICH VOTERS HAVE REPEATEDLY IDENTIFIED AS THEIR POP CONCERNS IN NOVEMBER.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT LEE ZELDIN'S MESSAGE OR THE MESSAGE FROM REPUBLICANS DOWN THE BALLOT THAT YOU THINK ON THOSE ISSUES IS RESONATING NOT ONLY WITH REPUBLICANS BUT YOU THINK MEANS IT IS CONNECTING WITH INDEPENDENT VOTERS OR MAYBE CUOMO 2018 VOTERS WHO YOU WILL NEED TO SIPHON OFF TO WIN IN NOVEMBER.

>> WHAT I SEE IN POLITICS SOMETIMES IS PEOPLE OR CANDIDATES TRY TO FORCE ISSUES ON VOTERS, BUT VOTERS CHOOSE THEIR OWN ISSUES: THEY KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM AND IN THIS INSTANCE, THE ISSUES MOST IMPORTANT TO VOTERS OR INFLATION AND CRIME AND THAT'S WHAT LEE ZELDIN WAS ALWAYS ABOUT.

HE HAD THE RIGHT MESSAGE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

IT'S A PERFECT STORM AND THAT'S WHY HE IS PERFORMING SO WELL.

THE TOPICS THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING ARE NOT THE PRIORITIES OF THE VOTERS RIGHT NOW.

THE PRIORITIES ARE THOSE ISSUES THAT LEE ZELDIN IS TALKING ABOUT.

>> AFTER WE SAW SOME POLLING COME OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER, WHICH INDICATED A TIGHTENING RACE, GOVERNOR HOCHUL STILL IN THE LEAD BUT A TIGHTENING OF THE RACE, WE SAW THAT THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN SEEMED TO BE PIVOTING MORE TOWARDS SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN PARTICULAR.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT SWITCH AT THE TIME WITH TWO OR THREE WEEKS TO GO AND NOW DAYS BEFORE ELECTION IS ENOUGH FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO HOLD ON TO THE ADVANTAGES THEY CONTAIN IN NEW YORK AND ACROSS THE STATE OR IS THERE REASON THAT YOU THINK THAT LEE ZELDIN CAN PULL OFF AN UPSET?

>> I THINK LEE HAS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OFF AN UPSET BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE HAVE STARTED-- THEY PAY MORE ATTENTION AFTER LABOR DAY AND NOTHING HAS GOTTEN BETTER IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I MEAN THERE IS EVERY SINGLE DAY JUST HERE IN SYRACUSE, THERE IS A TERRIBLE CRIME.

CRIME AFTER CRIME AFTER CRIME.

AND YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND I WENT TO B.J.

'S TO BUY CHICKEN AND IT'S GONE UP LIKE 10 BUCKS.

FOR ONE PACK OF POTENTIAL OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INVESTMENTS, SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU A LITTLE AFRAID IN ONONDAGA COUNTY OF DEMOCRATS' ABILITY TO WIN SOME ELECTIONS?

>> WELL, INTERESTINGLY, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A COMMUNITY ORIENTED SUPPORT OF MICRON BIPARTISAN AND THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY TURNED IT INTO A POLITICAL RALLY, WHICH MAKES ME THINK THE OPPOSITE, WHICH IS THEY MUST BE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT KATHY HOCHUL OR THEY WOULDN'T HAVE POLITICIZED IT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY DID IF THEY WEREN'T WORRIED.

THAT'S MY GUESS.

>> SO VINCE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE RIGHT NOW, IS THERE A REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF NEW YORK'S ELECTIONS SHOULD BE NOT A DEBILITATING PROBLEM FOR REPUBLICANS?

AND I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS A TWO TO ONE, CERTAINLY MORE THAN THAT DEMOCRATIC ENROLLMENT ADVANTAGE OVER REPUBLICANS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS THE EXUMCY COMECY EDGE THAT ALLOWS HER TO DOLE MONEY ALL OVER THE PLACE, TRAVELS WHEREVER SHE WANTS EASILY AND HAS THE CAMPAIGN EDGE.

WHY AREN'T THOSE LEADS THAT CAN'T BE OVER COME.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THE STATE.

WE ARE OUTNUMBERED AND THERE ARE TIMES OUR PROBLEMS ARE NOT THE ISSUES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OR THE CANDIDATES.

IT'S JUST PLAIN MATH.

I'VE SAID THIS AND IT'S VERY TRUE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S STATEWIDE AND THE PAST AS WELL THERE IS A SWEET SPOT REPUBLICANS HAVE TO HAVE.

IF IT'S TOO LOW, WE LOSE BECAUSE OF MATH.

IF IT IS TOO HIGH, WE LOSE BECAUSE OF MATH.

IF WE CAN GET IT WHERE ENOUGH ARE ENERGIZED TO COME OUT AND MAYBE SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT ENERGIZED TO COME OUT FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER AND WE ARE ABLE TO CONVINCE ENOUGH IN THE MIDDLE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT ISSUES WE CAN CREATE THE PERFECT STORM RIGHT NOW THERE IS VOLATILITY IN THE ELECTORATE AND YOU ARE SEEING THAT IN THE POLLING AND THE OTHER THING BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING FROM DOUBLE BIJ IT LEADS TO BOTH CANDIDATES BEING ON TOP DEPENDING ON THE POLLS.

EACH OF THE POLLS SHOW DIFFERENT TURNOUT MODELS.

THAT'S THE KEY TO EVERYTHING IN THE LAST WEEK IS THAT WHAT IS THE TURNOUT GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE POLLSTERS DON'T HAVE A HANDLE ON IT.

IF THEIR JOB IS TO ACCURATELY GO IN AND TELL YOU WHAT THE PICTURE LOOKS LIKE IN THE ELECTION, THEY CAN'T AGREE WHAT TURNOUT IS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS USING DIFFERENT MODELS.

THE SAME WITH THE CAMPAIGN.

AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, THE CAMPAIGNS NEED TO BE LOCKED IN ON WHO THEY NEED TO GET OUT SO WHILE THERE IS A MATH PROBLEM FOR REPUBLICANS, IT'S NOT COMPLETELY INSURMOUNTABLE IF YOU ARE GIVEN ALL OF THOSE RIGHT PIECES AND WHILE GOVERNOR HOCHUL ENJOYS THE ADVANTAGE OF COMECY, IT'S NOT ANYWHERE LIKE WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.

>> SHE DOESN'T WIELD IT LIKE CUOMO.

>> CERTAINLY DOESN'T.

SHE IS NOT AN ELECTIONED INCUMBENT.

THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

BEING A PERSON WHO ASCENDED TO THE SEAT OPPOSED TO BEING ELECTED.

THIS IS ALMOST RUNNING LIKE AN OPEN SEAT AND QUITE FEIGNINGLY, GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS NOT THE POLITICAL PROWESS OF CUOMO.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE PRIMARIES, WE HAD A SPECIAL ELECTION WHERE DEMOCRATS WERE ABLE TO NARROWLY HOLD ON TO A SEAT IN THE HUDSON VALLEY.

THAT'S A PURPLE DISTRICT COMPARED TO THE BLUE, BLUE NATURE OF NEW YORK.

IS THAT AN OMEN THAT REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT IN NOVEMBER OR JUST A SNAPSHOT IN TIME I THINK IT'S SOMETHING, ANY TIME YOU HAVE A SPECIAL LIKE THAT THAT YOU CAN ISOLATE, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT IT.

BUT YEAH, I THINK IT UNFORTUNATELY TOLD US SOME THINGS, I THOUGHT THAT CAMPAIGN WAS TOO NATIONALIZED.

IF IT DOESN'T AND WAS FOCUSED MORE ON LOCAL ISSUES AND THE CANDIDATES RUNNING, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUT COME.

>> IN CENTRAL NEW YORK ARE YOU FINDING THAT VOTERS, REPUBLICAN VOTERS, VOTERS OF OTHER PARTIES THAT YOU ARE TALKING TO ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ELECTIONS THIS FALL THROUGH A NATIONAL LENS OR ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF THE NAMES THAT ARE ACTUALLY ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL?

>> THERE IS NO REQUESTY THAT IT IS ON NATIONAL ELECTION IN THESE LOCAL RACES AND THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE.

SOME OF THE POLLING THAT HAS COME OUT HAS SHOWN THAT NEITHER OF THE CANDIDATES ARE ALL THAT WELL KNOWN.

>> CONGRESSIONAL RACE?

>> CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN TISCH.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE TO LOOK AT.

AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THAT RACE AND THE POLLING HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY IN FAVOR OF BRANDON WILLIAMS AT A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT, EVEN 538 HAS THEM PRETTY LIKELY TO WIN.

AND I DO THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE VOTING ON THEIR POCKETBOOK ISSUE FOR THAT.

>> WHAT IS THE SPECIAL SAUCE REPUBLICANS HAVE COOKED UP IN NY-22 THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD THIS DISTRICT WITH JOHN KATKO WHO IS NOT RUNNING, DESPITE THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS ON PAPER SHOULD BE ABLE TO WIN THE SEAT.

>> JUST THE RECENT THING THAT I SAW ONLINE.

THEY HAVE LIKE A LITTLE BETTER THAN IT WAS WITH KATKO, LIKE 2% ENROLLMENT ADVANTAGE AND MAYBE BIDEN HAD LIKE I DON'T KNOW WON BY EIGHT POINTS.

BUT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT FUSION VOTING IN NEW YORK STATE AND SO YOU HAVE AN ENROLLMENT ADVANTAGE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY DEMOCRATS 30,000 VOTERS BUT THERE IS A HUGE PART OF THE ELECTORATE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY THAT STILL DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PARTY THEY MAY HAVE A POLITICAL PREFERENCE BUT THEY REGISTER NOT ENROLLED OR THERE WAS AN INDEPENDENT PARTY THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

SO THEY'RE A HIDDEN VOTER AND I THINK A GOOD CHUNK OF THAT HIDDEN VOTER IS STILL WITH THE REPUBLICANS A LOT OF THE TIME BUT PEOPLE DON'T COUNT IT WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE ENROLLMENT.

>> OBVIOUSLY REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WIN THEM IN LARGE NUMBERS CONSIDERING THEY ACTUALLY MAKE UP MORE OF THE SHARE OF THE ELECTORATE THAN REPUBLICANS WHAT DOES AN UNAFFILIATED ZELDIN VOTER LOOK LIKE ESPECIALLY IN THE SUBURBS WHICH HE IS GOING HAVE TO WIN IF HE IS GOING HAVE ANY SERIOUS SHOT OF BEATING HOCHUL?

>> FIRST OFF, I THINK ONE OF THE MISTAKES WE MAKE IN POLITICS WHEN WE IDENTIFY ANY VOTING BLOCK WHETHER IT BE THE UNAFFILIATED OR IT'S SOME SORT OF MINORITY GROUP OR SOMETHING, IS WE PAINT IT WITH A MONOLITHIC BRUSH THAT ALL OF THOSE VOTERS ARE GOING TO VOTE THE SAME WAY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO SAY X, Y AND Z AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.

I THINK JUST LIKE WITH ANY KIND OF BLOCK OF VOTERS BUT IN CASE ONE AFFILIATED YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE ISSUES MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM THAT ARE GOING TO GET THEM TO THE POLLS, BECAUSE I THINK YOUR UNAFFILIATED VOTERS ARE WHERE YOU HAVE THE HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF PEOPLE THAT WON'T VOTE.

THEY'LL BE NON-VOTERS IF THEY ARE CONFUSED OR DON'T LIKE THE CANDIDATES.

THERE ARE MORE REASONS FOR THEM NOT TO VOTE THAN THERE ARE TO VOTE.

WE HAVE MAKE THE VALUE CONNECTIONS WITH THE VOTERS TO MAKE SURE AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LEE ZELDIN HAS DONE WELL IS HE HAS FOUND THOSE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS WHO, THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S WELFARE, WHETHER IT'S WALKING TO SCHOOL OR IN SCHOOL OR THOSE NICHE ISSUES THAT ARE HITTING HOME FOR THE EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS WHO, RIGHT NOW ARE TAKING A BEATING WERE IT'S AT THE GROCERY STORE LIKE BENNY MENTIONED OR IN SCHOOL OR AT WORK OR AM I GOING TO HAVE A JOB TOMORROW?

THAT-- THOSE ARE ISSUES STARTING TO TRANSCEND POLITICAL LINES AND STARTING TO BLUR AND I THINK YOU HAVE A LARGE SEGMENT OF UNAFFILIATED VOTERS WHO HAVE CONCERNS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT CONCERNS BUT CONCERNS OF A LOT OF EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS AND THAT'S WHERE LEE ZELDIN AND A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS AROUND THE STATE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF GOING IN AND FIND THOSE VOTERS.

>> ARE YOU ANTICIPATING THAT ZELDIN WILL BE ABLE TO WIN VOTERS STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE VOTING ROW B OR C OR IF HE WINS IT WILL BE A PRODUCT OF TICKET SPLITTING WHERE THEY MIGHT GRAVITATE TOWARD HIM OR LIKE THEIR DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR OR ASSEMBLYMEMBER?

>> YES I THINK THAT'S TICKET PLIT SPLITTING ON BOTH SIDES IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE AVAILABLE.

AND LIKELY AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE BALLOT SINCE THE BALLOT HAS CHANGED TO A PAPER BALLOT, INSTEAD OF A MACHINE, YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT ALL IN FRONT OF YOU, IT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO TICKET SPLIT AND WE ARE SEEING THAT.

AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO VOTE BECAUSE WHETHER IT'S THE NATIONAL ISSUE BUT AS THEY START SEEING THE NAMES OF THEIR STATE SENATOR OR ASSEMBLYMAN, A PERSON MOST LIKELY THEY HAVE MET IN THEIR COMMUNITY SOMEWHERE, THEY CAME TO THE SCHOOL, MY KID HAS A CERTIFICATE FROM THEM, YOU START TO MAKE DIFFERENT CONNECTION AND I THINK YOU SEE THE CROSSOVER GO BACK AND FORTH.

THAT SAID I THINK EVEN STATEWIDE LEVEL, WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS SOME INDICATIONS IN THE POLLING THAT SHOW SOME OF THE DOWN BALLOT CANDIDATES ARE NOT FOLLOWING IN LOCK STEP WITH THE TOP OF THE TICKET, AND YOU GOT A SITUATION WHERE THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE IS CLOSE AND THAT GIVES ENOUGH ONE OF THE DOWN BALLOT RACES GETS EVEN CLOSER.

IN 2010 THERE WAS THE SITUATION WHERE THE REPUBLICANS ALMOST WON HARRY WILSON WAS THE CANDIDATE, ALMOST WON THE COMPTROLLER'S RACE I.

WAS UNDER THE RADAR AND I THINK WE ARE IN A SIMILAR DYNAMIC THIS YEAR.

BECAUSE OF THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS TIGHT, YOU HAVE CREATED FOR SOMETHING TO SNEAK UP AND I WILL BE FRANK ABOUT IT.

I HAVE SEEN THAT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS WHO I THINK THEY'RE UPSET WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE RACES TO WATCH.

>> YOU DON'T THINK 9 DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES IN THE ASSEMBLY OR STATE SENATE ARE IN JEOPARDY THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME VERY LARGE MAJORITIES THERE.

THS WILL GAIN SEATS BUT THE HURDLE IS TOO MUCH TO DO IT IN ONE ELECTION.

THAT IS A TIDAL WAVE OF A RED ELECTION FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> FAST FORWARDING TO NOVEMBER 9.

SAY WE KNOW THE RESULTS ALREADY.

AND LET'S SAY REPUBLICANS DON'T WIN.

LET'S SAY LEE ZELDIN LOSES BY A POINT.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE PARTY NEED TO DO SOUL SEARCHING ABOUT ITS FUTURE OR DOES IT MEAN WE MADE A LOT OF GREAT PROGRESS AND WE NEED TO BUILD ON THIS AND WE ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

HOW WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT THAT RESULT IF IT DOESN'T GO YOUR WAY.

>> I'VE SEEN-- I THINK LEE ZELDIN HAS PROVED THAT WE CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN WHETHER WE WIN THIS TIME OR NOT BECAUSE HE MOUNTED A VERY SERIOUS CAMPAIGN.

THEY'RE NERVOUS.

HE IS OBVIOUSLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND WHETHER HE WINS OR NOT HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AND AS YOU GET DOWN BALLOT WE HAVE SOME GREAT CANDIDATES LOCALLY THAT ARE RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE, ASSEMBLY, CONGRESS.

I THINK HE WILL HAVE RAISED THE TIDE AND MAY, BECAUSE OF DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB ON HIS RACE AND THE ENERGY.

WE HAD A RALLY AND IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY.

HE HAS MOTIVATED A LOT OF THE BASE SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP OUR DOWN BALLOT.

I THINK HE'S IS GOING TO GET THE VOTE OUT AND I THINK WE WILL SEE PEOPLE THAT GET PUSHED OVER FROM HIM THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET SOME BIG WINS IN.

>> SO WIN OR LOSE, KIND OF CONTINUE IN THIS DIRECTION IN TERMS OF THE MESSAGING, THE TYPES OF CANDIDATES, AND ALL THAT?

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE I MEAN THE MESSAGE THE ECONOMY, WHICH IS A PRETTY TRADITIONAL MESSAGE.

AND CRIME DOES NEED TO BE FIXED AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING PRESSURE ON BAIL REFORM AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND AS YOU GO DOWN BALLOT TO SOME OF THE LOCAL RACES, IF WE-- RUNNING STATEWIDE FOR A REPUBLICAN IN NEW YORK IS A TOUGH, TOUGH RACE AS HE TALKED ABOUT WITH ENROLLMENT BUT WHEN YOU GET TO THE LOCAL RACES, IF HE IS ABLE TO LIFT UP AND GET SOME OF OUR PEOPLE IN, WIN, LOSE OR DRAW, HE HAS DONE THE JOB OF GETTING OUR PEOPLE IN AND GETTING, BEING ABLE TO MAKE SOME POSITIVE CHANGE WITH THE ECONOMY AND WITH CRIME.

>> VINCE, WE ARE ABOUT TO THE END OF THE SHOW, SO I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION WOULD BE, IF YOU HAD TO BET YOUR SALARY OR JUST WANTED TO TELL ME IN PRIVATE WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO WIN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IF YOU HAD TO BET ON IT, IS IT HOAK HOCHUL OR ZELDIN ONE WORD ANSWER, WHO IS GOING TO WIN.

>> I DON'T THINKING IN-- I DON'T DO ANYTHING IN ONE WORD.

>> FIVE SECONDS.

>> I THINK WE ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW ON ELECTION NIGHT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO END.

>> I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE THAT CLOSE >> AND UNFORUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

MY THANKS TO ONONDAGA COUNTY GOP CHAIR BENEDICTE DORAN AND REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT VINCE CASALE, AND THANKS AGAIN TO OUR FRIENDS ON THE LEFT FOR JOINING US IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE PROGRAM.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE - OR DIG INTO THE CONNECT NEW YORK ARCHIVES - VISIT WCNY.ORG/CONNECT NEW YORK.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.