Suozzi, Spitzer Debate Tonight; League Of Women Voters Wants More

Nassua County Executive Tom Suozzi and Attoreny General Eliot Spitzer are getting set to debate tonight.

So far it's the only debate scheduled between the two Democratic candidates for governor before they face off in a September primary.

The debate is being moderated and televised by NY1, and will take place at Pace University at 7:00 p.m. EDT. For those of you who prefer the desk top or laptop, NY1.com will also do a live Web cast.

The two enter the debate with Spitzer holding a nearly 70 point lead in the latest poll, released yesterday by Siena College.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS UNVEILS DEBATE SCHEDULE

If the League of Women Voters of New York State has its way, tonight's debate will not be the last between Suozzi and Spitzer. The League today unveiled a schedule of a series of debates for all statewide offices.

The LWV is proposing one debate for each primary matchup and three for the general elections, possibly four for the governor's race.The next Suoizzi-Spitzer proposed debate would be Aug. 31 in Albany.

According to the League, KT McFarland and Jonathan Tasini have committed to debate their opponents (John Spencer and Hillary Clinton repectively) in the GOP and Democratic races for Senate. Suozzi and John Faso have committed to any debates for governor that would apply to them and Mark Green, Charlie King and Jeanine Pirro have agreed to any debates that they would qualify for in the attorney general race.

Funny, I don't see any of the poll frontrunners' names on any of those lists.


SUOZZI QUESTIONED ON PETITION-GATHERING TACTICS

Naussau County legislator Craig Johnson, a backer of Spitzer, is questioning Suozzi's use of county employees to gather signitures to get Suozzi's name on the ballot. The Daily News is reporting today that Johnson has asked for a probe of the matter. The paper reports the Suozzi campaign claims the employees were gathering signitures on their own time.

SUOZZI TO OPEN MID-HUDSON CAMPAIGN OFFICE WEDNESDAY

Suozzi will be in Rockland County tomorrow morning to open his Mid-Hudson regional office at 10:45 a.m. EDT in Nanuet. I drive by the office regularly and the Suozzi signs have been in the windows for weeks. A tip to any campaign workers who may not be from the area. The campaign office is pretty much right across, or down, the street from three of the best pizza places in the state. So you should be eating good while you answer phones and stuff envelopes.


GILLIBRAND STILL TRYING TO PIN DOWN SWEENEY

Democrat Kirstin Gillibrand, who is trying to unseat Republican Rep. John Sweeney in New York's 20th Congressional District, is still trying to get Sweeney on the debating podium. Capitol Confidential reports Gillibrand has sent Sweeney a letter trying to get the incumbent to debate her. Capitol Confidential reports Sweeney's campaign has promised a debate after Labor Day.