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Zephyr Teachout: Gov. Cuomo Is 'Scared' To Debate

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Gov. Cuomo has a comfortable lead in the polls and in fundraising, but his Democratic opponent thinks he's running scared.

Zephyr Teachout wondered what message he was sending to voters by refusing to debate her, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.

"It's basically saying, 'I am not respecting you,'" Teachout said.

Zephyr Teachout: Gov. Cuomo Is 'Scared' To Debate

But the governor says this is not about respecting voters or the democratic process.

"I've been in many debates that I think were a disservice to democracy," he said.

"I'm communicating with voters all day long," Cuomo added.

Cuomo says voters already know where he stands, but Teachout thinks he should face some tough questions.

She said he needs to be held accountable on hydrofracking and the dismantling of the Moreland Commission.

"The best explanation for his refusal to debate is that he's scared that when voters really listen to him, they'll find out he can't defend his record," Teachout said.

The back-and-forth between Cuomo and Teachout has been ongoing.

In August, Teachout called for a probe into Cuomo's Long Island College Hospital deal, made during his first term with a developer to turn it into condos, WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported.

Teachout, a Fordham University law professor, recently won an appeal to get on the ballot as a Democrat after Cuomo's supporters had challenged her residency requirement.

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