(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Representative Lee Zeldin, R-NY, has closed in on Democratic governor Kathy Hochul in recent weeks, resulting in the New York state governor’s race changing to a rating as a “toss-up,” according to RealClearPolitics.
The shift comes a week after the polling data shifted from “leans Democratic” to “likely Democratic,” with Hochul leading Zedlin by 24 points.
The new data, however, suggests that the Republican candidate has managed to make the race competitive, The Daily Wire reported.
“Our race was just moved to TOSS UP by RealClearNews!” Zeldin celebrated in a tweet. “We have just 24 days to go until we FIRE Kathy Hochul & save our state. It’s not too late for Hochul to come out of hiding & do multiple debates with me across New York, starting immediately!”
New York is one of two deep blue states with a “toss-up” rating in their governor’s race.
Last month, the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia moved the rating for Oregon’s gubernatorial race from “leans Democratic” to “toss-up.”
New York’s new rating comes a week after the Trafalgar Group poll indicated the close race.
Hochul appears to be lagging due to her soft take on the state’s rising crime.
“It’s the only state we’ve seen crime exceed the economy,” said Trafalgar Group chief pollster Robert Cahaly, saying that crime is by far the largest concern for New York citizens.
Despite multiple attempts, the Zeldin campaign cannot convince the Hochul team to agree to more than one debate before the election.
In turn, Zeldin refused to debate Hochul if she would not agree to more than one debate. In effect, New Yorkers may not see the two candidates debate at all before the election.
“I am rejecting Kathy Hochul’s offer to one single debate at the very end of October,” Zeldin said during a virtual press conference. “I believe that it’s important for Kathy Hochul to come back with an offer to do multiple debates in multiple parts of this state.”
“I am not playing along with her games, I am not going to be playing along with this strategy that is an insult, disrespecting the voter of New York,” he added.
 Representative Lee Zeldin, R-NY, has closed in on Democratic governor Kathy Hochul in recent weeks, resulting in the New York state governor's race changing to a rating as a "toss-up," according to RealClearPolitics.){kind=link}