President Trump blasted New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for the high cost of living in the Empire State during a rally in Syracuse, New York, to boost Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee for governor.
The president said Ms. Hochul and other New York Democrats broke the state’s economy with high taxes, onerous business regulation and environmental restrictions on energy, which he said made the cost of living in the state unbearable.
“Under Democrat rule, New York has the number one highest taxes in the country, the number one worst business climate in the country,” Mr. Trump said at the rally on Friday. “You’re number one highest [in] homelessness in the country and more people are leaving New York than any other state in America. Other than that, I think you’re doing quite well.”
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“We need to clean house in Albany on November 3, starting with Kathy Hochul,” he said.
Mr. Trump said that if New Yorkers elect Mr. Blakeman as their governor, he will restore fiscal sanity and lower the state’s high cost of living.
“I make this statement – it’s not even a prediction – it’s a fact. If Bruce Blakeman gets in, he will cut your electric bill by 70, 80, 90%. You’ll see cuts like you’ve never seen before,” he said.
His message has an uphill climb. Polls show that voters blame him for higher prices after the Iran war pushed up gasoline prices and added to inflation.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Friday found that 78% of Americans blame Mr. Trump’s policies for rising prices that are outpacing earnings. The poll revealed that 57% of Republicans said that costs are growing faster than their paycheck, blaming Mr. Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war for rising prices. Both Republicans and Democrats said the cost of living is their top concern ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
It’s also a tough argument in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one.
Mr. Trump was interrupted three times by protesters at the rally.
The visit marked the third time Mr. Trump returned to his home state this year for GOP campaign events, including a summer rally on Long Island to boost Mr. Blakeman and local congressional candidates.
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