Conversation With New York Republican Governor Candidate Bruce Blakeman

Y going to do an interview. So just if we can keep it down for a second. >> Nice meeting you. >> Pleasure. >> Mr. F maybe future governor. >> Definitely. >> You sure? >> Hashem. >> Okay. Let me ask you about uh as you know New York is a democratic state is much more democratic. So why do you think you can win here? Well, first of all, last year I won re-election in a county larger than eight states with 110,000 more Democrats, >> and I not only won, >> but I won in a landslide. >> That means I got most of the independent voters and a healthy amount of Democrat voters. >> As I travel around the state, everyone is miserable under Kathy Hokll. Republicans, Democrats, independents, everybody's miserable. We're the most overt taxed state. Our electric bills are 70% higher than the national average. And she's the most procriminal governor in America. We are number 50 in economic outlook. You don't get worse than number 50. There's only 50 states. >> You think you won um locally because of that? >> I won locally because I made promises and kept them. I said I would make for safe communities. I hired over almost 900 new law enforcement professionals, police officers, corrections officers, probation officers. US News and World Report named my county the safest county in America, not New York, America. And I'm on the border of New York City. So I kept that promise. Then I said I wouldn't raise taxes. I cut $150 million tax increase of my predecessor. Haven't raised taxes in four years. >> Four budget surpluses, seven bond upgrades, unprecedented. Never happened. I have the lowest poverty rate in the state of New York. I've been a leader with a proven track record. She's a leader that has done nothing but fail the residents of this state. >> So, Democrats every day come up to me and say to me, "I've never voted Republican before in my life. This year, I'm voted for you. My party is insane. We're miserable and we need new leadership. >> So, you think that time it will be a high possibility that the Republican will win because of that? >> I fully expect to win. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I would win. The fact of the matter is I'm neck and neck in the polls now. Last poll I saw, I was in the margin of error. And I know the polls are right because Kathy Hok must have gotten a very, very bad poll cuz she spent $4 million the last three weeks attacking me. >> Mhm. >> If she was way ahead, she wouldn't be attacking me. >> So if you win. Yes. >> When I win. >> When you win. >> Um, of course it's a more a left step. left uh I mean politically and >> but it's not the lunatic left >> your promises are very good but the question is >> if the legislation is both of them senate and and uh as uh the assembly is democratic how will you pass your uh your >> well first of all the governor has a tremendous amount of power especially over the budget so it'll a negotiation process. There'll be things I want. There'll be things they want. I won't get everything I want, but I'll get enough that I need >> to turn this state around. And they're not going to get everything they want, but they will get enough. So, they'll support me on the issues that are important to me. It's a negotiation process. So, I feel that I have the ability to be able to sit down and negotiate. And by the way, when I win, it's a message to the Democrat legislature that no more business as usual. >> Understand? Our community is very, very proTrump. You know that. What's your relationship with the president? >> He's a close friend. >> Oh, yes. >> He's a close ally. He came to see me last Friday. Uh he came to my county. He's endorsed me. I talked to him on the phone regularly. >> Was a rally there >> in the county? Yeah, it was a rally in my county. >> Yeah, he came to my county last week and uh he had nothing but amazing things to say. Said I would make an amazing governor. >> Endorsed you. >> Said that I'm going to win. >> And uh we have a very close relationship. And uh >> he endorsed you above a lot, above a few other people, >> above everybody. So I got actually seven endorsements. Every time I see him, he endorses me again, which I like. when we get to Kai then I'll say no enough stop 18's enough >> I want to ask you one question it's the most difficult question it's a little bit harsh question >> did you have children >> no no no my wife's Yemenite she's not Ashkanazi >> ah so the whole the the >> my wife my wife is an excellent cook but she doesn't cook Ashkanazi >> Gilta fish yeah >> that's Ashkanazi I know gapilta fish cuz I'm Ashkanazi So, a little gapilta fish with some nice horseradish. Red, >> of course. >> Dark horseradish. I like >> You're from our people. >> Exactly. >> Thank you. I really appreciate it. >> You got it. Nothing better than a nice kosher hot dog, too.