Eliot Spitzer got to talk about the issues Monday night. Credit: Bess Adler
Eliot Spitzer and Scott Stringer, the two Democratic candidates fighting to be the city’s next comptroller, faced off in a fiery televised debate on Monday night.
While Stringer attacked Spitzer’s 2008 resignation, Spitzer criticized Stringer for supporting the change in term limits, allowing Mayor Michael Bloomberg to stay in office for a third term.
“When you came to Albany, we thought that you would take it to the next level, and you failed,” Stringer said during the debate hosted by NY1.
“The reason we had a third term is because the political establishment, with Scott’s support and participation, gave the mayor a third term,” Spitzer said.
Scott Stringer got taken to task for changing term limits to keep Mayor Michael Bloomberg in office. Credit: Mel Wright Photo/Manhattan Borough President’s Office/Flickr
Stringer, the Manhattan Borough President, was running unchallenged before Spitzer made an 11th-hour decision to run last month. Spitzer has been leading Stringer in the polls, but a Siena College poll on Monday revealed that 59 percent of New Yorkers view him unfavorably.
Spitzer, who is self-funding his campaign, tried to paint himself as an independent and Stringer as a product of the political establishment. Meanwhile, Stringer continued to slam Spitzer for his past.
“I may not be the celebrity candidate,” Stringer said. “But I have never embarrassed my constituents, not for one minute, and I never will.”
