NEW YORK — This nice guy could finish first.
Andrew Yang remains a key target for the mayoral field’s attacks. But he has yet to counterpunch.
What You Need To Know
- Optimism and positivity are central to Yang's brand
- Those who know him say it's not in his nature to counterpunch
- Top rival Eric Adams has consistently pummeled Yang on matters personal and policy
- But it's Yang's allies, not the candidate himself, who are left to defend him
Those who know him say it’s not in his nature.
“He has this Jedi mastery of staying above the fray, just being like, ‘Everything bounces off of me. I have to just keep an even keel,’” said Brian Yang, an actor and longtime friend who helped raise funds for Andrew Yang’s presidential bid.
Brian Yang says supporters do sometimes wish their candidate were more aggressive.
As a frontrunner with allies doing the sparring for him, Andrew Yang hasn’t really needed to go negative.
Even at the debate co-hosted by NY1, he used his cross-examination question — typically reserved for prodding opponents’ weak spots — to rally a rival into boosting his signature proposal.
“Dianne, this is a question for you. I’ve heard you said positive things about cash relief and universal basic income,” Yang asked Dianne Morales, noting that it's central to his platform before asking: “Do you agree that cash relief is a vital part of trying to help people here in New York?”
Morales agreed it will help, but said she doesn't believe it to be a long-term solution.
Fellow frontrunner Eric Adams, in particular, has slammed Yang for being newer to the city and then leaving it for his upstate home during part of the pandemic.
Adams has tagged Yang’s universal income plan a "U-B-lie."
Yang hasn’t returned fire.
“I’m much more focused on solving the problems of New Yorkers," he said. "But I’ll leave it to other candidates to lead their campaigns the way they see fit.”
But the Democratic candidate has allies who attack on his behalf.
Some of his so-called Yang Gang online has defended him to the point of bullying, their missives so vicious that Yang has sought to call them off.
Then, there’s the seasoned strategists punching back where Yang won’t.
“Says someone who has been in government for 15 years with nothing to show for it but some speeches,” tweeted co-campaign manager Chris Coffey in response to Adams’ knock that it took the Times Square shootings to spur Yang to discuss gun violence.
On Friday, Yang communications director Alyssa Cass called Adams a “gun-toting Republican celebrated by the likes of Tucker Carlson.”
And Yang has a supporter in high-profile public relations pro Lis Smith, a former adviser to Pete Buttigieg.
Smith has started a PAC that she tells NY1 will provide air cover for Yang as he faces still more attacks.
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May 15, 2021 at 05:49AM
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Yang doesn't attack rivals, but others do it on his behalf - Spectrum News NY1
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