MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) — A prominent New York conservative is urging Republican Curtis Sliwa to exit the race, in an attempt to bolster Andrew Cuomo’s chances of defeating frontrunner Zohran Mamdani.<\/p>\n
“I trust the people. They’ll make the decision. I’m not dropping out,” Sliwa said.<\/p>\n
The question follows conservative radio host Curtis Sliwa wherever he goes, and the answer is always the same.<\/p>\n
“I’m not dropping out. I have support. I have 11 headquarters. I have volunteers everywhere. Signs galore. I don’t see any Cuomo signs,” Sliwa said.<\/p>\n
But the pressure on the Republican nominee to quit the race has never been greater.<\/p>\n
“Last week’s Fox Newspoll gave Zohran Mamdani 52% of likely voters. Andrew Cuomo trails with 28% followed by Sliwa 14. Two percent would vote for Mayor Eric Adams, although he’s no longer campaigning. The former governor all but admits he can’t win with Sliwa in the race.<\/p>\n
For the first time, Sliwa’s boss at WABC Radio made an urgent public appeal to his own radio host.<\/p>\n
“Curtis has to realize that he should love New York more than anything else,” said WABC Radio owner John Catsimatidis. “And it certainly looks like that Curtis should pull out right now. We cannot take a chance. We cannot take a chance on Zohran winning.”<\/p>\n
Catsimatidis insists that many in the city’s business community are deeply worried at the prospect of a socialist mayor. Appearing on Fox News Monday morning, Cuomo tried to appeal to Sliwa’s voters while unloading on their candidate.<\/p>\n
“He’s really a shock jock on local radio. He’s never been in government. He has no relevant experience,” Cuomo said. “But he does take a certain number of votes. And to that extent, he is a spoiler. I believe he’s ultimately irrelevant.”<\/p>\n
Mamdani offered his own advice on Monday.<\/p>\n
“My advice to him is continue to make his own case,” Mamdani said. “You know, I’m focused on making my case to New Yorkers, but I do think to have a candidate spending all of his time pleading with another candidate to get out, it shows that he doesn’t have much to share with New Yorkers, himself.”<\/p>\n
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