Andrew Cuomo Agrees To Debate Cynthia Nixon Aug. 29

NEW YORK, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to debate Cynthia Nixon just two weeks before the Democratic primary for governor. The second-term governor has accepted CBS' invitation for an Aug. 29 debate with the activist and former "Sex and the City" star ahead of the Sept. 13 election, Byron Brown, the New York State Democratic Committee chairman, said Monday.

The announcement came three months after Nixon challenged Cuomo to a one-on-one face-off. The governor's campaign had promised a debate ahead of the primary but previously said it was reviewing debate requests.

The last two gubernatorial elections featured only one debate where candidates from every party, even minor parties, shared the stage.

Nixon’s campaign agreed to the debate but decried the fact that Cuomo apparently got to set the time, place and format. Nixon had agreed to debates hosted by NY1 and WABC but her campaign didn’t get “a seat at the table” with CBS, said senior campaign adviser Rebecca Katz.

“Cynthia will debate Governor Cuomo backwards and in high heels if she has to,” Katz said in a statement.

Brown noted the debate plans in a statement castigating Nixon and her running mate, city councilman and lieutenant governor hopeful Jumaane Williams, for not releasing five years of tax returns.

Cuomo campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith blasted Nixon for trying to divert attention from her taxes.

"Tricky Nixon is trying to change the topic," Smith said in a statement. "It’s time for Nixon — who filed as a corporation — to release 5 years of her taxes. Even Jumaane Williams will. What is she hiding?"

(Lead image: Gov. Andrew Cuomo is seen in May. Photo by Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)