The Giuliani name may be toxic to many New York Democrats, but it is still a powerful brand among many Republicans, particularly supporters of former President Donald Trump — a vocal group that has gotten behind Andrew Giuliani's run for governor.
Giuliani spent Sunday in New York City and on Long Island, leading a caravan to a rally at Jones Beach.
Whether the name recognition could propel him to victory in a statewide race is an open question. So Giuliani is sprinting hard toward the finish line.
What You Need To Know
- Andrew Giuliani spent Sunday in New York City and on Long Island, leading a caravan to a rally at Jones Beach
- Rep. Lee Zeldin, who has the support of the state party, spent the last several days on a statewide bus tour
- Former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino appealed to voters on the boardwalk in Long Beach
- The primary election for governor, lieutenant governor, state Assembly and other offices is Tuesday
"This race is really close right now,” he said. “It's going to be all about who actually can get their supporters to come on out and vote on Tuesday."
Giuliani's most formidable competition is Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin, who has the support of the state party and spent the last several days on a statewide bus tour.
At a stop in Utica on Sunday, he told supporters: "This is an opportunity for us to reopen New York for business, and to allow our families to stay here strong and not have to leave."
A June primary, amid gorgeous weather, has made it difficult to draw interest from voters, as Republican Rob Astorino found while seeking out voters on the Long Beach boardwalk.
"Reminding people that there's a primary, that's the first step,” he said.
Astorino, the former Westchester County Executive who was the Republican nominee for governor in 2014, has been struggling to gain traction. He occupies a third, more moderate lane in the race.
"I want to get rid of the radicals and the RINOs,” said Astorino. With Zeldin and Giuliani appealing to the far right, Astorino says voters tell him: “You're like Goldilocks, just right.”
A fourth candidate, businessman Harry Wilson, campaigned on Staten Island Sunday.
"I spent 30 years at the highest levels of American business, fixing broken organizations,” Wilson said. “That's exactly what state government needs."