Sharpton Accuses Grimm of Race-Baiting in Campaign Against Recchia
Turning up the heat in a tight campaign, Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm is trying to connect his Democratic opponent, Domenic Recchia, with the Rev. Al Sharpton, but in an exclusive interview, Sharpton fired back, accusing Grimm of race-baiting. NY1's Courtney Gross filed the following report.
Rep. Michael Grimm thinks the Rev. Al Sharpton will stir up some emotions on Staten Island. Take it from his latest campaign ad.
"The liberal dream team: De Blasio, Sharpton and Recchia. Domenic Recchia. He'll always be their puppet," the ad says.
However, the reverend himself says he is no puppet master.
"I have not had any request from my Staten Island chapter to even look at the race," Sharpton said. "It's not on our radar."
In fact, he said the ad is just race-baiting.
"Grimm is probably grimly desperate given his legal problems to try and sort of play the game, race-bait a little bit to try to get his vote out," Sharpton said.
"It has nothing to do with race," Grimm said. "It's about shutting down the bridge. It's what that represents."
Grimm is referring to a march on Staten Island back in August. Instead of having it on the street, Sharpton initially wanted to shut down the Verrazano Bridge.
Grimm opposed the idea. At the time, his Democratic opponent, Recchia, declined to weigh in on the controversy.
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Sharpton Accuses Grimm of Race-Baiting in Campaign Against Recchia