By Taryn Fivek
Photos: People’s World\YouTube Screenshots
NEW YORK – Coming away from the mayoral forum on the second day of the convention of the National Action Network Thursday it was clear that if the host of progressive candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York doesn’t coalesce behind a single figure the chances are that voters will face choosing from among three flawed candidates. They are the scandal-ridden ex-governor Andrew Cuomo, the Trump convert and current mayor Eric Adams, or the right-wing opportunist Curtis Sliwa.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday morning that he would be bowing out of the Democratic primary scheduled for June and instead run as an independent in the fall. Cuomo is seeking that nomination, along with a host of other more progressive candidates.
Relaunched his campaign
In the afternoon Thursday, on the second day of the National Action Network convention, Adams relaunched his reelection campaign, and, even though he has withdrawn from the Democratic primaries, he went head-to-head against the entire Democratic candidate field.
Brokered by Rev. Al Sharpton, the venue was a safer debut than Eric Adams might have had otherwise. When it was announced that federal charges against Adams were officially dropped with prejudice, the crowd broke into a mixed reaction: some applause, some groans and boos.
His approval rating has currently cratered to 20%, and his stepping back from the Democratic primaries may offer former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo an advantage. Major newspapers are already predicting a three-way race between Cuomo (D), Adams (I), and gadfly reactionary and founder of the paramilitary gang Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa (R ).
The NAN Mayoral Forum was moderated by Rev. Al Sharpton, NYC Racial Justice Commission Chair Jennifer Jones Austin, and former Congressional Representative Max Rose. They spoke with all the candidates including the plethora of candidates that Adams has just stepped out of competing with for the Democratic nomination.
The format was drawn out at more than two hours in length, and non-threatening. Each candidate was asked out on stage and then asked a handful of questions from the panelists before the next candidate was announced.
It is noteworthy that the first candidate was disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo, and not the current mayor, Eric Adams, himself. Cuomo entered onstage to cheers, applause, and a wall of camera flashes.
He fielded six questions, mainly softballs, insisting that he’s a good candidate because he knows a bully when he sees one and is therefore able to stand up to Trump. He claimed that he’d done it before as governor….
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