Despite No Debate Against Teachout, Gov. Cuomo Says He Will Debate In General Election

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo was eating cannolis and braciole while shaking hands with people standing in the rain watching the San Gennaro Parade Satruday.

The incumbent beat Zephyr Teachout in the primary without a debate, but will he face off with his candidates in the general election?

"We have to leave it for the different campaigns to work out the details, but the short answer is yes," Gov. Cuomo told reporters, including WCBS 880's Monica Miller.

Listen to Despite No Debate Against Teachout, Gov. Cuomo Says He Will Debate In General Election

(Credit: Monica Miller/WCBS 880)

But Republican Rob Astorino told WCBS 880's Steve Scott he's not so confident.

"There are a lot of questions he has to answer, but I think he's been avoiding them, avoiding the press, avoiding the people, avoiding a debate because his criminal defense attorneys advised him to not speak because he might perjure himself," he said.

Teachout said Friday she is considering her next steps after a surprisingly strong primary challenge to Gov. Cuomo, but wouldn't rule out endorsing him in the November election.

Teachout, a Fordham University law professor, told The Associated Press that she hasn't made a decision on whether she'll make an endorsement. She said Cuomo would need to express opposition to hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, or "fracking," before he could earn her support.

"I haven't made a final decision," she said of her endorsement.

Election Day is November 4.

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