Bruce Blakeman, Kathy Hochul debating in only meeting before gubernatorial election

Here's what strategists said ahead of debate

Political strategists recently outlined their take on what Blakeman and Hochul need to do to come out the victor in tonight's debate. 

"His audience really is the donor class," said Michael McKeon, a GOP consultant and former press secretary to the last Republican to become New York governor, George Pataki.

"The issue is, if Blakeman can have a strong [debate] performance and generate buzz and then use that to drive money to his campaign for a strong finish," McKeon said. "But it’s getting very late. This is probably the last week he has to make a difference to raise money and spend it in time."

Neal Kwatra, a Democratic campaign consultant, said Hochul needs to show she's attuned to New Yorkers' concerns. 

"Hochul needs to show she is not out of touch, that she recognizes people are struggling and that there is an affordability crisis. She has to guard against looking like she’s disconnected from everyday people," Kwatra said.

Read more from these strategists here.

How are Hochul and Blakeman doing on the money front?

The latest campaign finance filings show a wide gulf over how much Hochul and Blakeman have on hand with less than one month into the election.

As of early October, Hochul had at least $18 million on hand versus Blakeman's $178,000. Both raised a combined $20 million between July and October, filings show. 

Here's a recent look at where the candidates stand financially. 

Who is Bruce Blakeman?

Bruce Blakeman is the Nassau County county and Republican candidate for governor challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

Blakeman has served in several roles as a public official, dating back to 1993 when he was ran and won a seat for Hempstead Town Council. Since then, Blakeman has been a legislator and presiding officer for the Nassau County Legislature and now Nassau's 10th county executive. 

He took a break from public life, serving as a consultant, attorney and commissioner on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. 

Read Newsday's Political Reporter Bahar Ostadan's profile of Blakeman here. 

Who is Gov. Kathy Hochul?

Kathy Hochul is vying for a second full term as New York's 57th governor. 

In a profile about Hochul published in June, Newsday Albany Correspondent Keshia Clukey wrote that, "Hochul stands 5-foot-3 and greets people with a polished smile. She's high-energy but doesn't drink coffee and would rather be traveling — a trait she carries over from her lieutenant governor days, when she visited all of the state's 62 counties at least once each year.

As governor, she oversees a more than $260 billion budget, more than 183,900 state employees across 20 departments and more than 70 agencies and authorities, and is commander in chief of the state's naval and military forces."

Read Clukey's profile of Hochul here.