October 21, 2025 • 8 mins
Dov Hikind speaks with Mendte in the Morning about the calls for Curtis Sliwa to drop out of the race and why he thinks its not the right decision.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And we've been taking talkbacks all morning, and you continue
that please about whether Curtis Leewa should drop out of
the race. There is a renewed pressure for him to
drop out, with even close friends saying it's time to
drop out, because the latest polls show if he were
to drop out, it would be a very tight race
(00:20):
within four points between Zori Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. And
if it's all about stopping Zori Mamdani, a socialist, from
taking over the city, maybe he does have to drop out.
But he does have support from many of the people
who called him with talkbacks and also Dove Hikened, former
member of the New York State Assembly. He was there
(00:42):
for thirty six years and he's founder of Americans Against
Against Anti Semitism. Dove, I understand you are still in
full support of Curtis Leiwa and you don't think he
should drop out. Why is that?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well, well, good morning, it's good to be with you.
It's fascinating. You know, you have Curtis Leewa who's been
out there more than any other candidate, working day and night.
You know every single community. You know he's a Republican,
(01:21):
but you know it doesn't matter. You know, he's everywhere,
talks to everyone, and so on and so forth, and
suddenly there's one you know, this this poll that shows
that Cuomo is just a couple of points behind Mamdani.
If it was one on one, and suddenly the the
you know, you know, it's like an earthquake. Hey, Curtis
(01:42):
got to get out. Look, there is no question that
we need to do everything in the world to make
sure Mamdani does not become the mayor of New York,
for God knows, for so many different reasons, he will
destroy New York. There's no question in my mind. You
got to look at what he represents, the things he
(02:03):
talks about on every single level. Uh you know, uh so, Uh,
but I I'm waiting. I there's a debate coming up.
Curtis did very well last time. Uh uh you know,
I still believe that Curtis has a shot. We still
(02:23):
got a little time, and I want to give him
every opportunity, uh to be able to uh see if
we can change things and that Curtis can actually be
the guy. But I I just want to make it
clear that the goal is to beat Mom Donnie. At
the end of the day, but we still have time.
Uh so I you know this this suddenly, this this,
(02:47):
you know, he's got to get out right away. And
that Cuomo who's that campaign, he's not out there that
we should hand we should give you this amazing prize
of being mayor of New York immediately like this second.
Let you know, Curti's got to get out so that
the guy who resigned being governor for we know why
(03:10):
he you know he quit, he resigned. You know, let's
make a mayor now with the prize.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
It's the only it looks like the only Joe Dove.
Dove Seriously, he seems like the only option at this point.
I love Curtis Lee. Well, I'd love to see him
be mayor. I agree with everything you say that he
has been a great candidate, and he probably won the
first debate. A lot of that's because they didn't go
after him, they went after each other. But still I
(03:38):
think he won the first debate. He he can't win
at this point. It's not just one poll, it's every pole.
He's not been above twenty percent. You're telling me that's
going to change in two weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Well, the last, you know, the last poll, he was
at nineteen point something. Let's see in the coming days
that's coming up. Let's see whatever. I think. Curtis loves
New York. There is no question about it. I'm not sure.
I'm not sure. I'm not sure how much Culomo loves
in New York, right, but Curtis loves New York. He
(04:14):
will do he will do the right thing at the
end of the day. And you know, let's remember that
Cuomo said that at the at the end, whoever is ahead,
you know, the other person should get out of the race.
I am waiting, wait another couple of days. Uh. Uh.
(04:36):
And and then I believe that it will end up
being one on one. I really believe that. But I
don't want to throw in the towel for Curtis. Let's
have this next debate. Let's see what happens. Uh. You know, uh,
And you know, I believe that everything will work out.
(04:56):
You know, I'm an optimist. Okay, Uh, No.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
You're actually being reasonable. I get that. That's not that's
that's really good. I wasn't saying right away either. I
know he wants to be in the next debate because
he did so well in the first one. I get it.
That's a reasonable position. But then if the first polls
come out after this debate and he's still under twenty percent,
you would have to admit he's not going to win,
(05:21):
and then you would push him to get out to.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Look, I think Curtis will do the room, will do
the right thing at the end of the day. I
really believe that. So it's not a question of my
urging him to do anything.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
But would you do?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I really believe, but would you you know, I let's
talk about it in a couple of days. I don't
want to cree. I look, look, look, I you know.
Remember you know I ran for office many times. Yes,
I lost my first two races, and then I ran
against an incumbent who everyone told me you can't win
(06:00):
against an incumbent. I won, and then I served for
thirty six years without any opponent. So let's let's give
it a little longer. Look, I'm a realist. I see
what's going on, okay, And I've made it very very clear,
Ma'm Donnie is a pure disaster for New York, for
every community. Believe me, this has nothing to do with
(06:22):
you know, we know his physicians at Israel, we know
he supports radical Islamis and all that. It's not about that.
To me, it's everything. It's the entire picture. Okay, if
you know in the last debate, if you watchm Donnie
the lad, hey, listen, if if the election was to
be one on who has the best smile, it's ma'm Donnie.
(06:45):
But that's not what it's about. It's not about you know,
he's got a nice smile. He's a nice guy.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
You know, he's a great candidate. He's a he's a
very good candidate too, though he.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Has abulous gust. Yeah, I agree, he's fabulous. He's not good.
He is fabulous, fabulous, But that's not Listen, history, you
know a lot of very dangerous people who created amazing
destruction in the world had a nice smile and they
were nice people when you talk to them, and were
(07:19):
responsible for murdering millions and millions of people. So it's
not again, I'm not saying that Mamdani, but he is
really truly dangerous.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
And because of that, you would do anything right to
stop him. And so that's where I'm at. Now. I
agree with you. Your your position is completely reasonable.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I'm totally with you, and just wait, you must be
stopped and all of us at the at the right time,
we're all going to be united. I'm telling you there's
a vote that's going to come out that will shock
people against Mamdani. There's been major registration drives in the
Jewish community other places. Says like they've bridges that every
(08:01):
person that is that can walk.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Literally, I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
See that. You will see that on election day. But
you know, uh Furnis, I mean, the guy.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Is like out there, I got it, Dove, Dove, we
got to go. But that thing, I want to talk
to you again, Dove Hike and former member of the
New York State Assembly. Uh there for thirty six years.
That was extremely reasonable and I'm well, I'm with him,
And we've been taking talkbacks all morning, and you continue
that please about whether Curtis Leewa should drop out of
the race. There is a renewed pressure for him to
drop out, with even close friends saying it's time to
drop out, because the latest polls show if he were
to drop out, it would be a very tight race
(00:20):
within four points between Zori Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. And
if it's all about stopping Zori Mamdani, a socialist, from
taking over the city, maybe he does have to drop out.
But he does have support from many of the people
who called him with talkbacks and also Dove Hikened, former
member of the New York State Assembly. He was there
(00:42):
for thirty six years and he's founder of Americans Against
Against Anti Semitism. Dove, I understand you are still in
full support of Curtis Leiwa and you don't think he
should drop out. Why is that?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well, well, good morning, it's good to be with you.
It's fascinating. You know, you have Curtis Leewa who's been
out there more than any other candidate, working day and night.
You know every single community. You know he's a Republican,
(01:21):
but you know it doesn't matter. You know, he's everywhere,
talks to everyone, and so on and so forth, and
suddenly there's one you know, this this poll that shows
that Cuomo is just a couple of points behind Mamdani.
If it was one on one, and suddenly the the
you know, you know, it's like an earthquake. Hey, Curtis
(01:42):
got to get out. Look, there is no question that
we need to do everything in the world to make
sure Mamdani does not become the mayor of New York,
for God knows, for so many different reasons, he will
destroy New York. There's no question in my mind. You
got to look at what he represents, the things he
(02:03):
talks about on every single level. Uh you know, uh so, Uh,
but I I'm waiting. I there's a debate coming up.
Curtis did very well last time. Uh uh you know,
I still believe that Curtis has a shot. We still
(02:23):
got a little time, and I want to give him
every opportunity, uh to be able to uh see if
we can change things and that Curtis can actually be
the guy. But I I just want to make it
clear that the goal is to beat Mom Donnie. At
the end of the day, but we still have time.
Uh so I you know this this suddenly, this this,
(02:47):
you know, he's got to get out right away. And
that Cuomo who's that campaign, he's not out there that
we should hand we should give you this amazing prize
of being mayor of New York immediately like this second.
Let you know, Curti's got to get out so that
the guy who resigned being governor for we know why
(03:10):
he you know he quit, he resigned. You know, let's
make a mayor now with the prize.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
It's the only it looks like the only Joe Dove.
Dove Seriously, he seems like the only option at this point.
I love Curtis Lee. Well, I'd love to see him
be mayor. I agree with everything you say that he
has been a great candidate, and he probably won the
first debate. A lot of that's because they didn't go
after him, they went after each other. But still I
(03:38):
think he won the first debate. He he can't win
at this point. It's not just one poll, it's every pole.
He's not been above twenty percent. You're telling me that's
going to change in two weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Well, the last, you know, the last poll, he was
at nineteen point something. Let's see in the coming days
that's coming up. Let's see whatever. I think. Curtis loves
New York. There is no question about it. I'm not sure.
I'm not sure. I'm not sure how much Culomo loves
in New York, right, but Curtis loves New York. He
(04:14):
will do he will do the right thing at the
end of the day. And you know, let's remember that
Cuomo said that at the at the end, whoever is ahead,
you know, the other person should get out of the race.
I am waiting, wait another couple of days. Uh. Uh.
(04:36):
And and then I believe that it will end up
being one on one. I really believe that. But I
don't want to throw in the towel for Curtis. Let's
have this next debate. Let's see what happens. Uh. You know, uh,
And you know, I believe that everything will work out.
(04:56):
You know, I'm an optimist. Okay, Uh, No.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
You're actually being reasonable. I get that. That's not that's
that's really good. I wasn't saying right away either. I
know he wants to be in the next debate because
he did so well in the first one. I get it.
That's a reasonable position. But then if the first polls
come out after this debate and he's still under twenty percent,
you would have to admit he's not going to win,
(05:21):
and then you would push him to get out to.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Look, I think Curtis will do the room, will do
the right thing at the end of the day. I
really believe that. So it's not a question of my
urging him to do anything.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
But would you do?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I really believe, but would you you know, I let's
talk about it in a couple of days. I don't
want to cree. I look, look, look, I you know.
Remember you know I ran for office many times. Yes,
I lost my first two races, and then I ran
against an incumbent who everyone told me you can't win
(06:00):
against an incumbent. I won, and then I served for
thirty six years without any opponent. So let's let's give
it a little longer. Look, I'm a realist. I see
what's going on, okay, And I've made it very very clear,
Ma'm Donnie is a pure disaster for New York, for
every community. Believe me, this has nothing to do with
(06:22):
you know, we know his physicians at Israel, we know
he supports radical Islamis and all that. It's not about that.
To me, it's everything. It's the entire picture. Okay, if
you know in the last debate, if you watchm Donnie
the lad, hey, listen, if if the election was to
be one on who has the best smile, it's ma'm Donnie.
(06:45):
But that's not what it's about. It's not about you know,
he's got a nice smile. He's a nice guy.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
You know, he's a great candidate. He's a he's a
very good candidate too, though he.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Has abulous gust. Yeah, I agree, he's fabulous. He's not good.
He is fabulous, fabulous, But that's not Listen, history, you
know a lot of very dangerous people who created amazing
destruction in the world had a nice smile and they
were nice people when you talk to them, and were
(07:19):
responsible for murdering millions and millions of people. So it's
not again, I'm not saying that Mamdani, but he is
really truly dangerous.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
And because of that, you would do anything right to
stop him. And so that's where I'm at. Now. I
agree with you. Your your position is completely reasonable.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I'm totally with you, and just wait, you must be
stopped and all of us at the at the right time,
we're all going to be united. I'm telling you there's
a vote that's going to come out that will shock
people against Mamdani. There's been major registration drives in the
Jewish community other places. Says like they've bridges that every
(08:01):
person that is that can walk.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Literally, I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
See that. You will see that on election day. But
you know, uh Furnis, I mean, the guy.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Is like out there, I got it, Dove, Dove, we
got to go. But that thing, I want to talk
to you again, Dove Hike and former member of the
New York State Assembly. Uh there for thirty six years.
That was extremely reasonable and I'm well, I'm with him,
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