By JONATHAN LEMIRE
FILE – In this Aug. 9, 2013 file photo, New York City Republican mayoral candidates, from left, Joe Lhota, George McDonald, and John Catsimatidis participate in a primary mayoral debate at the WABC-TV studios in New York. The candidates are getting set to square off for their first debate of the campaign’s final fortnight on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/New York Daily News, James Keivom, Pool, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — A debate featuring the Republican candidates in the New York City mayor’s race has been punctuated by testy exchanges.
Joe Lhota (LOH’-tuh) and John Catsimatidis (kat-sih-mah-TEE’-dihz) snapped at each other Wednesday over funding for Catsimatidis’ plan to put police officers in high-crime public-housing buildings.
Lhota exclaimed “don’t make up numbers” to Catsimatidis. When Catsimatidis disputed that, Lhota asked him why he was so angry.
Lhota served as deputy mayor under Rudolph Giuliani (joo-lee-AH’-nee) and steered the Metropolitan Transportation Authority through Hurricane Sandy. He’s led the polls all campaign.
But Catsimatidis remains within striking distance. And a poll last week indicated nearly a third of the electorate is undecided.
Longshot candidate George McDonald also participated in the debate, the first televised showdown of the campaign’s final two weeks.
The primary is Sept. 10.
