(New York Post) Gov. Hochul dashed away from a Brooklyn parade today and ignored a shouted question from The Post — just days after a shock poll showed underdog challenger Lee Zeldin trailing herby just four points.
Unlike Mayor Eric Adams, Hochul stuck to her head-in-the-sand script and refused to break stride to press the flesh and speak with reporters while marching in the West Indian Day parade along Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights.
And when Hochul — who led a contingent of dignitaries behind a large banner bearing her name, title and official seal — got to New York Avenue, before the end of the route, she peeled off and darted to a waiting SUV.
The Democratic governor briefly turned her head in response to a shouted question from The Post asking when she’ll debate Zeldin, an outgoing Republican congressman from Long Island.
But she didn’t answer, got into the vehicle and was driven away behind its tinted windows.
GOP political consultant William O’Reilly, who isn’t working for Zeldin, said, “Gov. Hochul thinks she can run a Rose Garden strategy, but she does so at her own peril.”
Hochul is only leading the gubernatorial race against Rep. Lee Zeldin by four points, a recent poll found.AP/Yuki Iwamura
“New Yorkers expect their candidates to debate, and they don’t look kindly on those who try to squirrel out of them,” he said.
“As an unelected governor, Mrs. Hochul has an added obligation to voters, but at this point, she doesn’t seem to care. She thinks she can coast to victory, and that could be a very costly mistake.”
On Aug. 17, Hochul’s campaign said she “looks forward” to facing off in debates against Zeldin but wouldn’t say if she’ll agree to his plan for five debates across the Empire State.
Rep. Zeldin greets parade goers in Brooklyn as #westindiandayparade proceeds along Eastern Parkway. #nyc pic.twitter.com/Gn0qdNQWhZ
— Ben Von Klemperer (@BVKImages) September 5, 2022
The CBS New York and PIX11 TV stations have offered to host and broadcast one debate each.
In a statement following Hochul’s disappearing act Sunday, Zeldin asked, “What is Kathy Hochul so afraid of?”
“She could easily accept the CBS2 and PIX11 debate requests today!” said Zeldin, who appeared very accessible at the same parade.
