Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Recchia Skips First Scheduled Debate Against Grimm



During a day on the campaign trail, congressional candidate Michael Grimm and his challenger, Domenic Recchia, took turns calling each other out over the other’s schedule—including the fact that Recchia was a no-show at what was to be their first head-to-head debate. NY1′s Courtney Gross filed the following report.


On Tuesday afternoon both Congressman Michael Grimm and his Democratic challenger were on Staten Island. Grimm was honoring members of the Sanitation Department.


Domenic Recchia was talking to college students.


In between handshakes, these two were trading barbs over another topic entirely: their schedules.


“Everything about this campaign is a sham. It’s all to fool the people because his record is shameful,” Grimm said.


“He should be there, especially at important meetings and important events—like issues dealing with Sandy,” Recchia said.


Grimm did not attend a resiliency-related press conference on Monday to announce new finding for transportation projects. It became fodder for Recchia.


“Michael Grimm was missing. Where was he? What was he—with his lawyers preparing for trial?” Recchia said.


Then, Grimm turned to Recchia’s calendar. The Democrat declined an invitation to a debate Tuesday night—what was supposed to be the first head-to-head match-up.


Instead, Grimm appeared alone—answering questions from foreign policy to Sandy recovery and painting his opponent as an out of touch progressive.


“The reason he’s not here tonight is because he is in debate prep,” Grimm said. “Whatever you want to call them, DC types, downloading information, giving him talking points, sound bites, so he can get through a debate with me. The reality is he doesn’t really know the subject matter.”


Earlier, we asked Recchia three times why he couldn’t make it.


Gross: “What is the scheduling conflict?”

Recchia: “Well, we are ready to debate.”

Gross: “What exactly is the scheduling conflict tonight?”

Recchia: “I am out there ready to debate Michael Grimm.”

Gross: “So we can’t get specifics about your whereabouts tonight?”

Recchia: “Listen, I am ready to debate Michael Grimm.”


The Recchia campaign did tell us he never confirmed his attendance here in Brooklyn. As for Grimm’s reception, it was warm.





NEWS – NY1




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