Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod said on Thursday that progressive gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon is giving New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) “the biggest challenge he’s ever had,” even if she’s still considered the underdog in their primary race.
“Cynthia Nixon is giving [Gov.] Andrew Cuomo the biggest challenge he’s ever had in his political career,” Elrod said over whether Nixon has a shot at beating the third-term governor.
Elrod, who served as the director of strategic communications for Hillary Clinton, said that many think of the former “Sex and the City” star as just an actress, but the strategist argues that she’s done far more than just acting.
“She’s tough and she knows the issues – she’s incredible smart. She’s very well versed and she’s been an activist in New York state politics for years,” Elrod said.
Elrod said she was also impressed with Nixon’s performance during her highly anticipated debate with Cuomo on Wednesday night.
“The debate last night was focused on the issues, which was a refreshing thing to see,” she said.
The two Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls exchanged a few barbs while debating everything from universal health care to President Trump.
But things got particularly heated when the two candidates discussed New York City’s subway system.
“My opponent lives in the world of fiction, I live in the world of fact – Let’s just do a few facts, the subway system is owned by New York City,” Cuomo said in response to whose to blame him for the subway system’s issues.
But when he was corrected by Nixon, who said he MTA has been controlled by the state since 1965, he asked “Will you stop interrupting,” to which Nixon replied, “Can you stop lying?”
Nixon has been trailing Cuomo in the polls for months.
In March, a Quinnipiac poll found that Cuomo held a 22-point led, and according to the latest Siena College Research Institute poll, Cuomo is now ahead of Nixon by 35 points.
The Siena College Research Institute also found that Cuomo is more popular among Democratic voters across virtually every age group.
New York’s primary elections will be held on Sept. 13.
— Tess Bonn
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