Watch: Kathy Hochul Stumbles in Debate Opening Statement and Republican Opponent Bruce Blakeman Pounces

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul struggled through parts of her opening statement in Tuesday’s televised debate with Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, then faced repeated criticism from her opponent over crime, immigration and the state’s high costs.

Hochul began by saying, “New York state now has the lowest crime rates it’s had in modern history,” before adding, “Now, we’re not done yet, and you’re going to hear a lot of…”

After a noticeable pause, she continued: “Well, a lot of… different opinions here this evening.”

Blakeman, Nassau County’s executive, soon challenged Hochul over her response to a nonfatal shooting by federal immigration agents last week. The suspect was described in the debate as an illegal immigrant with gang ties and pending drug charges.

“This guy came into the country illegally,” Blakeman said, according to Fox News. “He’s been convicted of a crime. He’s got pending charges for dealing drugs, poison to our children. And he’s a gangbanger. This is who Kathy Hochul is defending?”

Hochul accused Blakeman of refusing “to condemn what ICE did.”

Conservative political consultant Ryan James Girdusky said a Democrat working for Hochul described Blakeman as “mauling her.”

Hochul later tried to shift the discussion to the economy and criticize the Trump administration. Blakeman responded by turning attention back to her record as governor.

“You like to talk about Donald Trump all the time, because you don’t want to talk about your record because it’s a record of misery and failure,” he said. “The highest taxes, utility rates that are 70 percent higher than the national average.”

After the debate, body-language expert Dr. Lillian Glass told the New York Post that Hochul looked like “a deer in headlights” for much of the event. She singled out the opening statement as a weak moment.

“It did not come off well, especially for somebody who is an incumbent governor,” Glass said, adding that it showed a lack of preparation. “Not good. Not a good look.”

Political consultant and campaign manager E. O’Brien “Obi” Murray also used the “deer in headlights” description.

“Hochul showed why she doesn’t want to debate; she is out of practice,” he told the New York Post. “She was a deer in the headlights from the opening statements and back on her heels for the remainder of the debate.”

Murray said Blakeman’s strongest stretch came when he focused on immigration and energy costs.

“He dominated the first 15 minutes talking immigration and high energy costs in New York State,” Murray said. “That’s what most viewers would see before they lost interest.”