Kathy Hochul and Lee Zeldin are poised to have a debate as they face off in the fierce New York Gubernatorial race despite it being initially considered a relatively easy win.
The New York governor's road to a full term in this fall's general election was previously thought to be a cakewalk but is now looking more like a minefield. The situation comes as Hochul, who dominated in the Democratic primary, entered the general election race with the incumbency, a mountain of cash, and an opponent who had close ties to former President Donald Trump.
New York Gubernatorial Race
Zeldin's relationship with the Republican businessman threatened his basic viability in a deep-blue state. However, with two weeks left until Election Day, New Yorkers are met with an increasingly competitive governor's race. New polls show storm clouds gathering nationwide for Democrats in power, darkened by rising prices.
Hochul's Rose Garden approach to the general election, where she campaigned lightly and dismissed Zeldin as a far-right sideshow, may have started to wilt under the heat of voter frustrations regarding the economy and elevated crime rates, as per the New York Daily News.
Zeldin, the underfunded Republican challenger from Shirley, L.I., made his way through the five boroughs, pledging to slash taxes and toughen the state's criminal justice system. His campaign has made visible inroads.
Every single day last week, the GOP member seemed to receive a new ray of sunny news as he trailed by more than 20 percentage points in some early polls of the race. A large phone poll on Tuesday from Quinnipiac University, placed him only four points behind Hochul.
According to ABC7NY, on the same day, a similar Siena College poll gave Hochul an 11-point lead and a third poll by SurveyUSA gave the governor a six-point lead. The Republican has continued to attack the Democrat on issues such as bail reform.
Hochul's Failed Initial Approach
The GOP lawmaker said that what was happening was that the law was being used where teenagers were being used to commit crime after crime after crime. However, Hochul insists that the compromise she brokered in Albany made bail laws tougher.
The governor noted that repeat offenders, who are exactly the type of people that Zeldin was talking about, are now covered under the old bail laws. She added that anything with guns was also covered by the old bail laws.
This week, Hochul committed more MTA police officers to patrol the subway following an increase in crime. Democrats were heckled at their rally by several Zeldin supporters, with one even trying to take over the stage who was quickly led away by authorities.
One voter, David Rem, said that he was going to support Republicans during the general elections, adding that bail reform has destroyed New York City. Another individual, Hope Singsen, said she was supporting Democrats, arguing that the GOP is trying to take away their freedom to decide if and when to have a family.
Now, the situation has forced Hochul to respond with a last-minute shift in approach by promoting her efforts to create jobs and fight crime within the city. In a new TV ad, Hochul said that New Yorkers deserve to feel safe, Politico reported.
Related Article: Former US Vice President Mike Pence Declares 2022 Midterm Elections as Turning Point for GOP Electoral Victory
