Cuomo has to be ecstatic with the debate

Going into the debate Andrew Cuomo had the most to lose, and yet when the hour and a half session was over–he appeared even stronger as the clear front runner in the race.

Cuomo avoided any gaffe and appeared gubernatorial.

It was Cuomo’s nemesis Carl Paladino who seemed like he was completely out of place. Paladino didn’t challenge or attack Cuomo once. Paladino appeared nervous a good deal of the time. Perhaps he was trying to show a softer side to appeal to voters, or perhaps Paladino was just completely out of his element and not ready for prime-time.

Based on the traded barbs, you would think Cuomo and City Councilman Charles Barron were the leading contenders.

The moderators dealt with a number of topics: Education, the budget deficit, and MTA for example, but the attacks started early from Barron warning about Cuomo‘s plan to cut back on state payroll and pension spending.

"Cuomo is going to be the king of layoffs," Mr. Barron said. "You vote for him, your job will be gone. Your pension is gone. Your health care is gone."

Cuomo didn’t lose his cool, but if you thought he was going to turn the cheek on every charge like most front-runners do, that didn’t happen. Cuomo s shot back shaking his head.

"They go with you Charles, there's no jobs," he said, provoking a few "oohs" from the audience.

The two even engaged in a testy exchange over the correct pronunciation of a word- "hydrofracking."

Paladino was almost like the odd man out in the room. Others had some good one-liners, but Paladino (his first time in a debate) clearly appeared out of his element.

Paladino even agreed with Cuomo on one point.

"Jobs are the No. 1 concern for the people of the State of New York today," Paladino said. says, blaming "high taxes and bureaucracy" for the high unemployment rate. The one time Paladino received mild applause from the audience was on the topic of education when he charged the “focus is more on the teacher’s union than on the child.”

Paladino took some little hits, not from Cuomo, but for example, from Libertarian Party Candidate Warren Redlich:

“Mr. Paladino’s behavior in the campaign is going to keep a lot of people home.”

Paladino didn’t respond, he just ignored the comment.

As expected there was plenty of theater.

Self-proclaimed “Manhattan Madam” Kristin Davis made a comparison between her “business” and that of the MTA. She said: her business had “One set of books, and her escorts provided "on-time and reliable service."

Another of her one-liners was that if business taxes are raised, companies will flee NY "quicker than Carl Paladino at a gay bar."

Jimmy McMillian seemed to connect all night with his “the rent is too damn high,” message, but I’m still trying to figure out why he was wearing a pair of black gloves. (McMillan later said they are from the psychological affects of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War-though I have known him for many years, and he has never said this before)

McMillian seemed to connect so much that even Cuomo started borrowing his lines.

“As Jimmy said, you lead.” Cuomo said. Then later during the debate. Cuomo went further, “I agree with Jimmy, the rent is too damn high.”

Cuomo at one point stated: “I put people in jail, and yes it was hard.” He was touting his Attorney General credentials as the man to turn around the state, and that’s when Barron charged again.

"For Andrew Cuomo to sit here and say he is tough on corruption,”

"For Andrew how come his buddy, Vito Lopez, who has been corrupt for a long time, he is just getting around to even thinking of dealing with him? He is selectively going to go against those who are corrupt. If you are corrupt and you contribute, he will let you go." (Vito Lopez is the Democratic chairman of Brooklyn whose charity is under investigation.)

Mr. Barron concluded: "Asking Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino to end corruption is like asking an arsonist to help us put out the fires. It doesn't make sense."

At the end of the night Cuomo had to be declared the winner.

Cuomo made no mistakes & looked gubernatorial. Forget Paladino being in Cuomo’s league, it seemed like Paladino wasn’t even on the stage.