Takeaways From 2nd NYC Mayoral Debate

And for more takeaways from yesterday's debate, joining us is Matt Clink, Republican strategist and political analyst. And we have Robin Bro, Democratic strategist and former Obama regional campaign director. So, good afternoon to you both. Matt, if you could start us off here, what stood out to you the most in last night's debate? >> I think the fact that nothing happened in last night's debate that upset the apple cart in terms of the current status quo in the race. Mandani is still running like he's ahead. Uh, you know, Cuomo is doing everything he can. It almost looks like an act of desperation to try to create that moment that will go viral. And sadly, the the more sound that uh Mr. Siwa sounds, the worse he hurts Mario Cuomo and makes the inevitability of a mammi mayorality a likelihood. So again, with two weeks left, it's Mum Dami as a front runner, and unless he does himself harm, he's gonna win. >> So Robin, what what do you think here? How how were the candidates uh performances? >> You know, honestly, I thought they did a respectable job. I don't think that any one of them hurt themselves last night necessarily. Uh but I don't think many of them moved the needle except for Siwa. I mean, he really did come across as someone that was genuine, likable, quite the character, as you said in the lead to the segment. Uh, if you're voting just on character, on entertainment value, he provided it last night. Uh, I will say, you know, I've run for mayor of a pretty large city here. Um, not not anything like New York, but, you know, here in Atlanta, Georgia. So, uh, a lot can change in the final two weeks. As Matt just said, you know, I don't expect for, you know, unless they do themselves harm, it's going to be Mandani. But still, a lot can change. They're leaking photos right now of of Mandani with some rather unsavory characters, and if more of that happens, it could cause harm. >> So, Matt, you know, I was talking about this uh debate with some of my colleagues here at the office. You know, some think that Manny actually did worse um and Cuomo did better. Uh can can I get your view on this? How do you view the performance of each candidate compared to the last debate? >> Well, look, you know, worse and better is is a very subjective uh uh classification. Uh when you're when you're looking at these things, you you want to look at momentum. And while I think some Democratic voters have come home uh to vote with uh with uh former Governor Cuomo, I think unfortunately it's a it's too little too late. Uh the the social media activity for Mom Donnie has been consistent and dwarfs that of uh of Cuomo. Uh there's a buzz about his candid candidacy from younger voters. There's excitement there and I think that you know look uh Quuomo is swinging for the fences trying to hit a home run and right now Mum Donnie is just sit he just needs to make contact with the ball and put it in play because he's in front and as each day that goes by that that front runner gets stronger and stronger and Mr. Cuomo is not I mean he should have he should have been more aggressive three months ago when it would have moved people not in the last two weeks. >> So Robin uh I see you nodding there. Uh do you have a response to that? >> Yes. Uh there were some zingers last night also. I want to point out some of those. Uh I think actually Mani did himself harm when he specifically did not take a position on the ballot measures. You heard the audience groan. You never want to have that happen. Um, and to his credit, Siwa said, uh, Zoron, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin, and Andrew, your failures could fill a New York public school library. I mean, uh, ridiculous. And and they also uh claimed that Mandani has never even had a real job. I mean, it highlights the fact that he's 34 years old. They're trying the old these older gentlemen uh are both trying to paint him as someone inexperienced for the job. Don, >> um so actually we have some breaking news here. It appears that uh the current mayor, Eric Adams, has just endorsed Andrew Cuomo. That's very interesting. U Matt, maybe we can get a reaction from you. Uh do you think this changes the trajectory? >> Uh it helps, but I don't think it helps enough. I mean, I I think that if you look at where uh Mayor Adams votes were going, uh they're certainly not going to go to Mombi, uh they'll probably go more toward uh Cuomo, but again, it's not enough to put him over the top. Uh and we know that Curtis SWA is not going to get out. Uh and his votes appear to be pretty rock solid. There aren't a lot of Republicans in New York City, but those that are, they're going to stick with their guy. Uh, and I think that will come directly out of voters that would more more likely than not go to uh, Governor Cuomo. >> So, Robin, can I get a reaction from you as well uh, on this? >> Please, >> Robin. Yeah, >> I'm I'm ready for I'm ready here. Uh, I want to point out the fact that both Siwa and Mandani have already addressed this prior to the endorsement. They said that they would never accept uh an Adams endorsement. So Adams was was kind of forced. The only candidate that he was left and and able to endorse was Cuomo. So I really don't think it makes that much of a difference. Don, >> all right. So I guess Matt, you would agree that at this point things are basically baked into the cake. >> Uh barring that, you know, the o we always talk about an October surprise. I you know or as Robin know you have your the the Frankenstein moment to the statue the little mannequin you have behind you. Um yeah unless something happens that radically changes the the trajectory of this race it's going to be mom Donnie and it's going to be mom Donnie pretty comfortably. >> All right. So I wanted to get your guys' on something else too. But Robin I wanted to point it out point out that Frankenstein figure as well. uh maybe at the end, but since Matt brought it up, I think it looks pretty good as well. Pretty impressive. Uh so yeah, >> thank you. I've got two teenage boys, so we're having a lot of fun over here. >> Great. Great. Uh so the other topic I wanted uh to get your guys' comments on were the California's redistricting efforts. So Robin, h how do you assess Proposition 50? What is your angle on that? You know, I'm always eager to to for to to fight on redistricting, and we have that happen a lot here. That's why I ran for state senate last year was because of redistricting. Uh, you know, I would argue that the the lines look gerrymandered there in California. That's never really a good thing. Uh, it's not it's especially not a good thing uh for Democrats usually, but in this case, it is. done. >> So, Matt, what do you think here? California, as you know, uses an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw congressional maps. Uh, how do you expect voters to respond to Prop 50, which would temporarily override that commission? >> Yeah. A couple of observations because I'm very familiar with this with this initiative. You know, that the the government has in California has a temporary doesn't mean temporary. We've had a temporary sales tax increase on the books since 2012 that miraculously keeps on getting extended every four years until it runs out. Uh look, this it's a you know, Gavin Newsome has done an excellent job of nationalizing this campaign. Uh talking about fighting Donald Trump. He's had some very effective advertisements. We've had a very small voter turnout. 3.4 4 million ballots returned out of a total of 19.6 million in the state. Uh and the majority 51% of them have been Democratic ballot returns. So that bodess well for the Democrats. I will say though that you know this they say oh it's just four seats. You can't just redraw four congressional districts. It affects congressional districts up and down the state. It probably will yield a net of about seven or eight seats for Democrats and really divides some communities up like between three and four congressional districts. It's going to create some huge problems. Uh but you know, right now the Democrats have the momentum and the money in their favor. Uh so I mean it's looking good for the yes on Prop 50 folks. So, Robin, you know, I think some voters, they just want to see uh upholding a redistricting process without politics. And, you know, some are saying that California's redistricting is purely a strategy to counteract Republican redistricting redistricting efforts. What do you say to that? >> Oh, yeah. It's absolutely a strategy to to combat Republican redistricting efforts uh that are happening right now in Texas specifically. Uh, but I want to point out that just seven hours ago, former President Obama said that Proposition 50 is absolutely essential to preserve democracy because of Republican redistricting. Uh, so that's going to have some way, Don. >> Okay, Matt. May maybe just final comments here. Does putting this measure before voters resolve your concerns? Because, you know, at the end of the day, it is Californians who are making the decision. >> No. I mean, look, we we voted overwhelmingly twice to have an independent citizens redistricting commission conduct our redistricting. And I will remind you that, you know, we have a 52 member congressional delegation. The Democrats already control 43 seats. And in the long run, yes, uh, this allegedly is a response to Texas, but Democratic states are far more heavily gerrymandered than Republican states. And in the long run, if the Republicans do what uh California has done, which can be done without a ballot measure, the Democrats will lose up to 19 seats nationwide. So, it's a short-sighted strategy that the Democrats will ultimately lose and just wait until that pesky 2030 census when the population moves are going to really pull congressional seats away from blue states and give them to red states. that that the the northern block of of those states that always are determinative, it won't even matter. The Democrats could sweep and the Republicans will still win. So, the Democrats have some long-term problems. And this is shortsighted by Gavin Newsome and by the Democrats. >> Well, all right. Uh, let's leave the discussion here. And Robin, I like the jacko'lanterns as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Very spooky, Robin. Good job. I love it. All right.