Bloomberg, Thompson Battle In First Mayoral Debate

Photographs of Bloomberg and Thompson during the debate by Bryan Smith/Pool photo, AP

Last night's first mayoral debate between incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Comptroller William Thompson showed both men in attack mode: Bloomberg went after Thompson's record heading the Board of Education and accepting donations from pension funds that the city uses while Thompson reminded voters how Bloomberg maneuvered for the term limits and extension and how he's spent $65 million on his campaign so far. You can watch the debate at NY1, but here are some highlights:

Thompson on Bloomberg's wealth: "Can the richest man in New York City play by his own set of rules, while we play by a different set of rules?"
Bloomberg on Thompson's education record: "The schools were much worse then. It was a failing school system"; "Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic — that is exactly what he did"
Thompson on the term limits extension: "It is wrong. Mike Bloomberg lied to the people of New York City."
Bloomberg on term limits: Noting that voters are facing issues about education, crime, and tough financial times, "No one is indispensable. But voters have a choice. And if that's their issue on Nov. 3, they can express themselves."

Bloomberg on Thompson's acceptance of donations from pension funds the city invests with: "My opponent has taken something like $650,000 from people who manage the city's money. In return for which the city has gotten worse performance. That is no way to run a government."
Thompson on Bloomberg's generous philanthropy: "The mayor has engaged in pay-to-endorse politics."
On whether Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. is better than former Senate Majority Joe Bruno: Thompson said, "Yes," while Bloomberg said, "No."
On whether President Obama had done enough on gay rights so far: Thompson said yes, while Bloomberg said no.
On whether they had ever gotten a manicure or pedicure: Thompson said yes (but not recently) while Bloomberg said no.
On whether Rudy Giuliani would make a good governor: Thompson said no, while Bloomberg said yes.
Bloomberg saying something nice about Thompson: "He’s a great golfer, and we’ve done a lot of things together, and we’ve had good times together."
Thompson saying something nice about Bloomberg: " think the mayor is well-dressed and his golf game has shown great improvement. At the same time, eight is enough."

The NY Times analyzes some of the details that the candidates flung during the debate, finding that both fudged certain things. Body language experts gave their opinions of the candidates to the Daily News, finding Thompson more passionate and Bloomberg more analytical (one also said Bloomberg seemed "depressed" and "tired"). And of course both candidates' team think their man won:

"I thought it was a clear win for the mayor," said Bloomberg Campaign Spokesman Howard Wolfson. "He made a strong case for his own record and another four years as mayor and he talked about the areas in which Bill Thompson failed our city at the Board of Education and at the Comptroller's office."
"Michael Bloomberg cannot hide behind his high-priced consultants and his millions of dollars of ads," said Thompson Campaign Manager Eduardo Castell. "He had to stand up here and discuss and debate the issues with Bill Thompson and I think we saw a great contrast today -- Bill Thompson talking about how he was going to put City Hall back on the side of the middle class, Bill Thompson talking about the importance of Democracy and keeping your word with term limits. Michael Bloomberg didn't have answers for those things."

The next debate is October 27.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 14, 2009 9:10 AM

Comments [rss]

felixthecat2

Bloomberg would do anything to get what he wants. Looks at the thompsontaxhike website he had created. I would never vote for him and I hope people realize how Bloomberg is BEHOLDEN TO NO ONE but himself.

ANGRYGOD11

If both candidates are so concerned about the struggling NYC families, why have the debate on NY1? If you can't afford cable or if you have Verizon FIOS or satellite , you didn't see the debate. Local PBS should have been the option, if none of the local broadcasters wouldn't show it.

FJF

After that debate, the only question now is which of the third-party candidates to vote for.

S.K.

I'd choose Jimmy (Rent too Damn High) McMillan over Billy (fake clergyman) Talen.

McMillan has much to teach Talen in street theater and heckling.

McMillan has lived in our city longer than Talen.

PrincessIncognita

I tend to agree with Jimmy that my rent is indeed too damn high.

theevilone

If he keeps doing what he is doing, I'd happily vote for Bloomberg for 5 more terms.

hotstepper

evil developer?

JacqueMehoff

there's nothing wrong with bill thompson,

he's just as qualified and competent as bloomberg.

if not, more so.

ask the teachers and parents what they think of the schools, not some old retiree who hasn't been in a public school in 50 years. what does the rich know about public schools?

when you cherry pick the students who gets into these "charter" schools, of course, your results will be above average.

bloomberg supported and voted for mcCain.

uptownnyc

Thompson supported Espada. Bloomberg didn't. That basically sealed it for me .... Bloomberg gets my vote.

REALITY CHECK

Stupid Gothamist preview LIES about formatting.... here's the comment again with my broken tags fixed:

Thompson supported Espada. Bloomberg didn't. That basically sealed it for me .... Bloomberg gets my vote.

You need to work on your comprehension skills. The question was whether Espada was better than Bruno, not whether he supported Espada.

Bloomberg actually supported Bush. Not just with words, but with $7 million to the Republican party, the largest single-person donation in their history.

So yeah, make this election about who supports who, you're obviously a sharp one.

REALITY CHECK

Thompson supported Espada. Bloomberg didn't. That basically sealed it for me .... Bloomberg gets my vote.
You need to work on your comprehension skills. question was whether Espada was better than Bruno, not whether he supported Espada.
Bloomberg actually supported Bush. Not just with words, but with $7 million to the Republican party, the largest single-person donation in their history.

So yeah, make this election about who supports who, you're obviously a sharp one.

felixthecat2

The $1 billion in stimulus cash being spent in city schools this year has not created new jobs, and may be one of worst uses of funds aimed at jumpstarting the economy, experts say.

The Department of Education doled out $625 million this year to 1,475 schools, instructing that most of the money go for staffers that "would otherwise have been cut." The rest is helping pay the rising cost of fringe benefits and administrative costs.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/ed_waste_7FybXnr74QTv4WwlVFj1dN

felixthecat2

Bloomberg supports Guiliani and Thompson didn't say he supported Espada but that Espada was better than Bruno.

imadick

truth is that rudy would be a better governer than the spineless twit we have now. not that i'd want rudy there, but you can't say he's worse than paterson.

felixthecat2

The first responders would support Patterson over Guiliani who made millions of the 9/11 while the first responders died.

http://www.rudy-urbanlegend.com/

felixthecat2

http://ny1.com/1-all-boroughs-news-content/top_stories/107273/ny1-online--2009-mayoral-debate--1--10-13-09-

here is the debate online

HOTCUP

although there's plenty of reasons not to vote for bloomberg, i still can't find a good reason to vote for thompson.

i guess my vote's for reverend billy?

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/10/12/nyregion/20091012-CANDIDATES-AUDIO.html

felixthecat2

that is a wasted vote, he has no chance of winning. I like him but I don't want Bloomberg for 12 years. He is a liar and a dictator.

HOTCUP

i was just kidding, i'm voting bloomberg. like i said, plenty of reasons not to vote for him, but the benefits outweigh whatever thompson brings to the table.

come on, felix. thompson is a total dud. term limits is such a non-issue, what the hell does thompson actualy stand for besides himself? i'm convinced there's nothing that he could do better than bloomberg.

and how could you say that thompson won the debate? to say that obama's done enough for gay rights was such a massive choke! i bet he lost sleep over that.

felixthecat2

Obama has only been in office for 9 months and yes I am disappointed that he has not repeal DOMA and not end the don't ask don't tell policy. However Obama has verbally promised to do so and I think he will. However BLooomberg lies too much. He appealed the court ruling that legalize Gay marriages in NYC. He lied that he was obligated to appeal the case. WRONG. Bloomberg was against same sex marriages but NOW he supports it since there is an overwhelming majority in NY that supports same-sex marriages. Bloomberg needs to lose. IT is the only way to clean out the system by voting them out until they respond to the people. Thompson at least listens to the people. Bloomberg is NOT BEHOLDEN TO THE PEOPLE, he is a billionaire. He does what he wants for himself and his rich buddies.

texinyc

I've always been happy to participate in any election I can, but after hearing the first part of the debate last night and reading some of the responses I missed on Gothamist this morning I can't really say I want either of these guys to win.

felixthecat2

Bloomberg did poorly since some of his responses were obviously dishonest. He denied he bought the Republican and Independence Party lines and stated his supporters and endorsers were unaware of his contributions to their organizations. Thompson should have mention that homelessness was high before the recession and how Bloomberg charged them to live in shelters and bought them one way tickets out of the city. Thomspon should have mention the overcrowding in schools and hospitals and firehouses closings. Thompson did better but he missed some opportunities to knock out Bloomberg.

GOP

Bloomberg won. All of Bloomberg's responses were practical and about issues facing NYCers. Thompson was all about term limits.

Warren Buffett should step down as CEO of Berkshire because his term is up. How silly does that sound? Bloomberg is good for NYC.

hotstepper

warren buffet is not a politician, so your comparison is void. are you saying that you don't believe in the democratic process? term limits is the issue because it was an illegal act against the wishes of the electorate.

NYC is (was?) not a fiefdom as much as little-chavez would like.

felixthecat2

Your response is stupid, really stupid. the PUBLIC voted TWICE for TERM LIMITS and Bloomberg decided to run down the clock and overturn the WILL of the public.