During a critical debate in the tight primary race for New York’s 12th Congressional District, embattled Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) put in a shaky and confused performance as he desperately tries to keep a seat in Congress.
Nadler lost his long-held seat after New York Democrats threw him under the bus with redistricting.
He is now in a tight primary battle with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) for her long-held position in Congress.
Nadler is in a tough race for the first time in years and he is not handling it well.
On Tuesday night, Nadler botched the critical debate when he could least afford it.
The congressman appeared weak, frail, shaky, and confused and spent much of the debate sitting down on a stool.
Manhattan Democrat Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Nadler have been in office since 1992 and are facing off in a primary after the once every ten-year redistricting process.
Suraj Patel, who worked for Barack Obama, is the other challenger and he called out Nadler and Maloney for being D.C. swamp creatures.
Patel said: “Seniority and tenure does not inure effectiveness. Seniority didn’t stop the record storefront vacancies on Columbus Avenue or Second Avenue.”
“With seniority comes clout and the ability to get things done,” Nadler said.
“That’s the way Congress works.”
“It’s 2022. It’s time to turn the page on 1992,” Patel, 38, said hammering Nadler after he bumbled through a few answers.
“Nineteen-nineties Democrats have lost about every major battle to Mitch McConnell and the Republicans,” said Patel calling for a change.
Nadler tried to fend off his challenger at one point reminding voters that, “I’ve impeached Bush twice.”
He meant Trump and it went downhill from there for Nadler.
From The New York Post:
Nadler sat down during the entire 90 minute session while Maloney and Patel stood at their lecterns.
Nadler had many other verbal stumbles throughout the debate and at one point when the moderators offered him a chance to respond since his name had been brought up by an opponent, he seemed stunned and had nothing to say.
At one point, WNYC moderator Brigid Bergin asked Nadler about the importance of seniority and how he and Maloney differed on policies, two related but different questions.
Nadler answered that seniority is important if used effectively, but forget about the Maloney comparison.
“The second one, the second question, what was the second one?” Nadler asked.
When asked whether @JoeBiden should run again in 2024, @CarolynBMaloney said she doesn’t "believe he’s running for re-election." #nydebates pic.twitter.com/Rd2sVPl7fX
— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) August 3, 2022
