Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman defended his campaign strategy and alliance with President Donald Trump in a television interview, drawing renewed criticism Friday from Kathy Hochul’s campaign.
Asked whether he regretted embracing Trump during the race, Blakeman said he agrees with the president on some issues and disagrees on others, according to WABC’s Thursday report.
Blakeman points to policy differences
“Look, there’s areas where I agree with the president. There’s areas where I disagree with the president,” Blakeman said.
He described himself as pro-choice and said he supports guest-worker permits for undocumented New Yorkers.
Blakeman accused Hochul of making New York less affordable through taxes and high utility bills and criticized her record on public safety. He argued that the Democratic governor should regret her policies, adding, “I don’t have any regrets.”
WABC reported that Blakeman campaigned in Harlem and the South Bronx Thursday, promoting tax cuts and lower utility rates.
Hochul’s campaign renews its Trump criticism
Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki issued a statement Friday arguing that Blakeman’s comments demonstrated his loyalty to Trump.
“Every New Yorker headed to the polls right now is crystal clear on where Bruce Blakeman’s allegiance lies: with Donald Trump and only Donald Trump,” Radulovacki said.
He contrasted that with the campaign’s argument that Hochul would keep fighting for families.
Hochul spent part of Thursday at a phone bank in Peekskill supporting Democratic congressional candidate Cait Conley. She told WABC that she wanted to help other Democrats while opposing what she characterized as Trump-style leadership in Albany.
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