Andrew Cuomo, Rob Astorino stump upstate as they enter final campaign weekend

After a New York City radio interview, Cuomo held rallies in the Democratic strongholds of Syracuse, Rochester and Niagara Falls touting his efforts to transform Albany and the state’s economy. Astorino held get-out-the-vote rallies in Elmira, Binghamton, Watertown and Plattsburgh.

BY GLENN BLAIN , KENNETH LOVETT 

 

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

 

Friday, October 31, 2014, 10:31 PM

GARY WIEPERT/APGov. Cuomo (left) and Republican challenger Rob Astorino stumped across upstate Friday as they enter the final weekend of campaigning before Election Day.

ALBANY - Gov. Cuomo and Republican challenger Rob Astorino stumped across upstate Friday, bringing a jolt of energy to the endgame of their campaigns.

After a New York City radio interview, Cuomo held rallies in the Democratic strongholds of Syracuse, Rochester and Niagara Falls touting his efforts to transform Albany and the state’s economy.

“The reforms that we put in place, I want to continue them” Cuomo said on “The Brian Lehrer Show” on WNYC radio. “I want to continue the functionality of government, if you will."

Astorino held get-out-the-vote rallies in Elmira, Binghamton, Watertown and Plattsburgh.

“It's Halloween," Astorino said in Binghamton. “Andrew Cuomo has been seen in two costumes: the Cowardly Lion, because he didn't want to debate; and Pinochio for all his commercials.”

Astorino was supposed to debate Cuomo on WNYC, but he backed out after Cuomo refused to a one-on-one televised debate.

ANDREW BURTON/GETTY IMAGESCuomo held rallies in the Democratic strongholds of Syracuse, Rochester and Niagara Falls touting his efforts to transform Albany and the state’s economy.

The day began with a new Marist/Wall Street Journal/WNBC poll showing Astorino down by 26 points. Cuomo was supported by 56% of likely voters, compared to 30% for Astorino and 6% for Green Party nominee Howie Hawkins.

Despite the poll, Astorino insisted the race was slipping away from Cuomo.

“You can feel the shift taking place very quickly over the last two weeks," Astorino told the Daily News in a phone interview. "It's exactly what happened in 1994 when (George) Pataki was down and then won on Election Day. Twenty years later, it will be the same result.”

Astorino’s campaign continued to target minority voters, releasing a statement that Cuomo had “completely ignored communities of color.”

Astorino told The News he’s asking minorities and Democrats "to come on board so we can reform this state and get it back on track."

MICHAEL SCHWARTZ/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWSAstorino held get-out-the-vote rallies in Elmira, Binghamton, Watertown and Plattsburgh.

Cuomo, during his radio interview, said he also wants to focus more on poorer communities in New York City.

"The Bronx, unemployment is just unacceptable, and we have pockets of poverty that don't get the attention or the dialogue that they deserve,” he said.

As part of his appeal to minorty voters, Cuomo was planning to campaign Saturday with Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia-Padilla at stops in the Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn.

Cuomo said also he wanted to pushed through the DREAM Act, which provides tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants; public financing of elections; and new economic development measures for upstate.

"There is a very stark choice in this election,” Cuomo said.