Andrew Cuomo, Cynthia Nixon to square off in only debate: What to know

Jon Campbell | Albany Bureau

Show Caption Hide Caption Cynthia Nixon on her debate preparation, poll numbers Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Cynthia Nixon speaks to reporters in Albany on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018.

ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo and primary challenger Cynthia Nixon will square off Wednesday in their only debate ahead of the Sept. 13 primary.

The hourlong debate, which will air on tape delay on CBS stations across the state, will give viewers their only chance to see the two candidates share a stage as they make their case to Democratic primary voters across the state.

For Cuomo, it's a chance to tout his record during his eight years as governor and flaunt his progressive accomplishments to a liberal-minded electorate.

For Nixon, it's a chance to make the case that Cuomo isn't nearly progressive enough, taking her message to a wider audience as she tries to make up ground in public-opinion polls that show her trailing.

Here's how to watch and what to watch for.

How to watch

Who: Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon

What: The Democratic candidates for governor debate.

When: The debate will air on CBS stations across the state and on CBSNewYork.com at 7 p.m. Wednesday. (It's on a two-hour tape delay; The debate will be taped at 5 p.m.)

Where: Hofstra University on Long Island. WCBS-TV's Marcia Kramer and Maurice DuBois will moderate.

Why: Nixon and Cuomo are running in the Sept. 13 primary election.

Will Cuomo slip up?

Various public-opinion polls have shown Cuomo, the two-term incumbent, with a very comfortable lead over Nixon, the Sex and the City actor and activist.

In late July, Siena College pegged Cuomo's lead at 60 percent to 29 percent among likely Democratic primary voters.

So this much is clear: Cuomo has more to lose and Nixon has more to gain. A particularly poor performance or embarrassing gaffe by Cuomo would play right into Nixon's hands.

More: Cuomo speaks at church about Trump

Expect Cuomo to play it safe, said Iona College political science professor Jeanne Zaino.

"His best bet is to make no unforced errors," Zaino said. "Make no news. Allow this thing to be as quiet as possible and move on."

In recent months, Cuomo has focused his political ire directly at Trump, shifting the focus to his battles with the Republican president rather than directly engaging with Nixon.

Cuomo had little to say when asked Monday how he was preparing for the debate.

"By governing," he said.

Can Nixon change the narrative?

Cuomo spent more than $7 million in recent weeks blanketing the airwaves with advertisements touting his battles with President Donald Trump and painting himself as a progressive.

Nixon has nowhere near the campaign cash Cuomo does, meaning Wednesday's debate — not television advertisements — will be her best chance to take her message directly to the primary voters.

More: Cynthia Nixon makes case for candidacy in Albany

Siena pollster Steve Greenberg said Nixon needs to win big to alter the race in any way.

"She's behind and she's behind by a lot," Greenberg said. "She needs to change the narrative, she needs to change momentum. She needs a big win."

Like Cuomo, Nixon didn't shed much light on her debate preparation when asked about it last week.

"Mostly I've still been out on the (campaign) trail," she told reporters in Albany. "But mostly I'm trying to imagine the questions that will be given."

Seated candidates, room temperature and more

Don't expect the candidates to be standing behind a podium when they take the stage Wednesday.

They'll be seated. And Nixon's campaign isn't happy about it.

When the debate was announced earlier this month, Nixon's campaign accused WCBS-TV -- which is producing the debate -- of presenting a take-it-or-leave-it offer of debate rules and details after its negotiations with the Cuomo campaign.

Among them? The candidates will be seated, as they have been for Cuomo's previous two gubernatorial debates.

On Tuesday, the New York Times reported Nixon's campaign has also raised concerns about the temperature of the room. Cuomo's preference for bitter cold rooms is widely known; Nixon's campaign is pushing for 76 degrees, according to the Times.

Who will be watching?

Will enough people watch to make a difference?

Greenberg, the Siena pollster, said the debate isn't likely to get "huge viewership."

"This is not a presidential debate," he said. "It's not on six networks live on the same time with a good portion of America watching it. This is a gubernatorial debate on the Wednesday before Labor Day weekend that's going to be on one station in every market."

If history is a guide, however, voter turnout will be low on Sept. 13.

In 2014, when Cuomo faced a challenge from then-unknown opponent Zephyr Teachout, about 10.7 percent of active Democratic voters in New York cast a ballot.

There are differences this year, however: Nixon is better known than Teachout was in 2014. This year's primary is on a Thursday, not a traditional Tuesday. And Cuomo declined to debate Teachout at all.