Dem AG candidates focus attacks on Schneiderman

Though polls show nearly three-quarters of New Yorkers are undecided in the attorney general's race, the consensus among the five Democrats at last night's debate was that state Sen. Eric Schneiderman is in the lead.

Schneiderman (D-Manhattan), whose campaign Tuesday touted "massive statewide momentum," bore the brunt of attacks from the other four candidates during the debate at The New York Times auditorium.

During the portion of the debate in which each candidate got to pose a single question to another, three chose to grill Schneiderman.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice asked why he hasn't released his income tax returns (he said he would), former state insurance superintendent Eric Dinallo asked if he'd be able to probe corruption by his Senate colleagues (he said he would) and Assemb. Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) asked why he voted against a measure relating to confinement of sexual predators (Schneiderman said he shared criminal justice advocates' concerns about the bill).

Former federal prosecutor Sean Coffey, asked to say something nice about Schneiderman, offered only: "I have real issues with some of the compromises he's made on reform. But I think his heart is in the right place."

Schneiderman sought to seize the mantle as the candidate closest to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, praising his term in office and suggesting for the first time that he may sign Cuomo's government reform platform.

Schneiderman said rivals' attacks of backing he has received from other elected officials stemmed from jealousy.

"The fact is that I've got lots of endorsements, and I'm sorry if you don't, but a lot of people sought the endorsements of the people they're now attacking me about," he said.

The debate, the last scheduled televised gathering between the candidates before the Sept. 14 primary, largely consisted of the candidates repeating long-practiced talking points.

Brodsky portrayed himself as a protector of pocketbook issues.

Coffey reminded viewers of his immigrant parents, his ties to upstate and Long Island and that he's the lone candidate who has not held a political post. "If you're happy with how things are in Albany, you have three incumbent politicians and one person who left appointed office in this race," he said.

Dinallo, who served with then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, touted his independence from establishment politicians.

And Rice attacked Albany leaders, especially Schneiderman. "The choice," she said, "is going to be who do you believe out of all the candidates will be able to fight."