NEW YORK (AP) - New York City’s mayoral candidates are gearing up for their final debate on Wednesday night, with Democrat Zohran Mamdani aiming to maintain his frontrunner status in a race that increasingly appears to favor him. Meanwhile, former Governor Andrew Cuomo has intensified pressure on Republican Curtis Sliwa to consider exiting the race. Early voting is set to begin in just days, adding urgency to the candidates' final campaign strategies.

Cuomo has made a series of appeals to the city's conservative voters, urging them to abandon Sliwa in favor of himself, framing the Republican candidate as a “spoiler” whose campaign could enable Mamdani to secure victory. This debate represents what could be Cuomo's last and best opportunity to make a compelling case for his leadership ahead of next month’s election.

In contrast, Sliwa, renowned for founding the Guardian Angels crime patrol group, has firmly declared his intent to remain in the race. He has also ramped up his criticisms of Cuomo during campaign events, further complicating the dynamics of the debate.

Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and a rising star, is expected to face a more aggressive approach from Cuomo in this debate, particularly based on the heat he took during last week’s first debate. He has been focusing on local issues and appealing to voters, stating, “While my opponents are focused on speaking about each other, my focus will be on New Yorkers themselves and the concerns I've heard from them.”

The 34-year-old democratic socialist has faced scrutiny regarding his relatively limited political experience, with opponents accusing him of leading the city into chaos if elected. Some have even underscored threats from former President Donald Trump, who indicated the possibility of taking control of the city should Mamdani win. Despite these challenges, Mamdani successfully defended his positions last week while attacking Cuomo’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing sexual harassment allegations that led to Cuomo’s resignation in 2021.

Mamdani benefitted from Sliwa's sharper attacks on Cuomo during the previous debate, which positioned Cuomo defensively at a crucial moment when he needed to challenge Mamdani effectively to halt the Democrat's rising momentum.

As the election draws closer, Cuomo, who failed in his previous Democratic primary attempt against Mamdani, has rebooted his campaign with an unusual strategy—calling for his fellow candidates to drop out. He reiterated this position during a radio interview, noting, “A vote for Curtis is a vote for Mamdani,” acknowledging the mathematical challenge he faces with Sliwa still in the race. “Republicans believe Mamdani is an existential threat,” Cuomo stated, suggesting that support for him is necessary to mitigate this perceived threat.

The debate is also significant for Sliwa, who made a memorable impression during last week's interview by sharing personal anecdotes, including a past incident where he was shot in what he described as an assassination attempt. He will aim to leverage his increased visibility into genuine voter support in the heavily Democratic city.

To be competitive, Sliwa must retain the nearly 30% of voters he attracted in the last mayoral election while appealing to centrists who may be reluctant to back either Mamdani or Cuomo. Despite increasing calls for him to withdraw from the race, Sliwa appeared more resolved than ever, stating in a campaign video, “The billionaires are not going to determine who the next mayor is. You, the people will.” He encouraged his supporters to participate in early voting commencing this weekend.

The debate promises to be an essential event for all candidates involved, presenting them with the opportunity to solidify their platforms and appeal to undecided voters.