Paladino seeks more debates, slams Hofstra format

Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino Tuesday called for more debates and criticized as "terrible" the format of Monday's faceoff at Hofstra University. But Democratic rival Andrew Cuomo refused to commit to any more.

Trailing in the polls and widely seen as having turned in a less-polished performance Monday, Paladino said the free-for-all debate with seven candidates allowed Cuomo to "wallow in platitudes" without being challenged.

On John Gambling's talk radio show Tuesday, Paladino called it a "terrible format."

"I talked to a few of the other candidates and we agree: There needs to be more debates, and at least one upstate," he said in a statement calling for a forum in his hometown of Buffalo.

At a campaign stop in Poughkeepsie Tuesday, Cuomo declined to commit to holding more debates, saying he wanted to visit all 62 counties and speak directly to voters. "To the extent people wanted to see all the candidates there and discuss their platforms, I think that occurred," Cuomo said.

Paladino himself had insisted on including all the minor-party candidates and wants them on the stage in new debates. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, who switched parties in his own unsuccessful bid for governor, called that decision "political malpractice."

"[A]s a challenger, he needed as much face time as possible," Levy said.

Paladino has agreed to six other debate offers from media and civic groups. One is the League of Women Voters of New York State, which contacted the Cuomo campaign Tuesday to gauge interest.

"Our offer still exists," said Laura Ladd Bierman, the group's executive director. She had not received a yes or no from Cuomo Tuesday.

Paladino campaign manager Michael Caputo said Paladino was talking about several aspects of the debate when he called it "terrible."

Caputo said Paladino could not hear the questioners well from his side of the stage. He said the campaign was not made aware that students would ask questions until the night before and said a Paladino rally was moved three times by campus police.

Hofstra spokeswoman Karla Schuster responded: "Every candidate had equal access and equal treatment in all aspects of the debate." A spokesman for Newsday, which sponsored the debate along with News 12 Long Island, declined to comment. A News 12 spokeswoman did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Paladino and Cuomo both attended the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner Tuesday night in Manhattan, a New York City political ritual.

Earlier in the evening, Paladino attended a Conservative Party fundraiser where Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a potential presidential candidate, spoke.

With Dan Janison, AP