Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo  is following the infamous Rose Garden Strategy of ignoring underdog Republican challenger Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and refusing to participate in a series of public debates between now and Election Day.  

He did the same for the Democratic Primary by only participating in one debate at the 11th hour with his under financed opponent, Cynthia Nixon.  

Molinaro has challenged him to a series of statewide debates.  Cuomo is noncommittal about debating Molinaro one-on-one.  He suggested he may insist minor party candidates are included — a favorite Cuomo debate tactic. 

Cuomo’s $26M primary campaign plus $5M from the State Democratic Party Committee outspent Nixon 10 to 1.  Minor party candidates, including Working Families Cynthia Nixon, Green Howie Hawkins, Libertarian Larry Sharpe and Serve America Movement Stephanie Miner, have no chance of winning. 

They are running to obtain 50,000 votes necessary for permanent ballot status.  Permanent ballot status makes it easier to qualify candidates.  Having these candidates included in debates crowds out Molinaro, resulting in less time to get his message out. 

With less than five weeks to go until Nov. 6, Cuomo will run out the clock in negotiations.  Cuomo’s  goal is agreeing to one or two debates, knowing that his election is already preordained.  Just look at the voter affiliations and campaign funds. 

Voter enrollment numbers favor Cuomo.  There 5,621,811 Democrats versus 2,632,341 Republican active voters.  Cuomo has $11 million and will raise millions more. 

Molinaro, like Nixon, will be outspent by Cuomo 10 to one.  Albany’s infamous State Street lobbyists who represent various special interest groups will continue “pay for play” by providing more campaign contributions to Cuomo. 

It is an investment to stay on his good side.  They know in the previous eight years as Gov. Cuomo “returned the favors” and will deliver over the next four years.    

All incumbent elected officials, be they Democrat or Republican, start out with many advantages not available to challengers. During any term of public office, incumbents have daily television, radio and newspaper exposure, press conferences, newsletters, guest columns in newspapers, letters to the editor and speaking engagements on a regular basis.

Don’t forget the perks of public office, including announcements of member items (local pork-barrel projects).  These are used to raise name recognition and assist in greasing the wheels of re-election. 

Up until the 1980s, both Democratic and Republican primary candidates participated in numerous television and newspaper editorial board debates. Voters could look beyond 60-second TV commercial sound bites to learn about real views and issues among the candidates. 

Those candidates who refused to participate in these debates would be subject to critical newspaper editorials. They ended up losing newspaper endorsements and usually went down to defeat in either the primary or general election. 

In the 1980s, the Rose Garden Strategy emerged. Incumbents or officially designated incumbent candidates of both parties refused to debate lesser-known, under-funded opponents in either the primary or general election.

They had no interest in providing a free forum for challengers to get their message directly to voters. Many newspapers and good government groups failed to speak up and shame these incumbents into participating in debates. 

They don’t want to provide their respective unknown and under-financed opponents with free forums to explain their positions on issues of the day. Newspapers provide a forum at no charge affording under financed and lesser known candidates a chance to communicate their views on issues of the day to voters. 

Why not participate in debates sponsored by each of NYC’s daily newspapers and television stations? The Daily News, Post, Newsday, Times, Wall Street Journal and Staten Island Advance, along with local weekly newspapers such as Blank Slate Publications, would all be happy to host debates. 

Ditto for upstate newspapers and television stations in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithica, Rochester, Syracuse and Watertown.  Let us hope that enlightened newspapers such as the Great Neck News call for an end of incumbents and officially designated organization candidates use of the infamous Rose Garden Strategy in future elections. 

Intelligent voters deserve frequent debates prior to the general election as opposed to canned TV commercials.

If Cuomo continues to refuse to participate in series of debates open to full media coverage with his underdog Republican challenger Molinaro, he should be subject to critical newspaper editorials. He should forfeit any chance of endorsements by media outlets.

Larry Penner

(Larry Penner of Great Neck is a long time follower of Albany State Government and Politics)