If this was supposed to be a "statewide debate," it was a ridiculous farce. Most of the questions concerned specific New York City-centric issues. What a cruel joke for upstate voters who tuned in hoping to hear more than a token mention of the various complex issues of concern to them this election year. This debate was being aired on cable systems all over the state, but all that people in Rochester or Watertown saw were downstate pols and downstate media gazing at their downstate navels. As usual, New York City media proves itself utterly incapable of assuming a mature statewide role in an election year.