Hochul appeared 'deer in the headlights' during debate, body language expert says

Gov. Kathy Hochul exhibited defensive body language and appeared dismissive during the New York gubernatorial debate against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, according to human behavior and body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass. Conversely, Blakeman presented an aggressive demeanor, repeatedly attacking Hochul on issues such as energy costs, taxes, and rising antisemitism.

Glass characterized Hochul's performance as resembling a "deer in the headlights," suggesting a lack of preparation and an "embarrassed" state. The expert noted Hochul's tendency to hesitate, blink frequently, smile while looking down, and pause extensively before answering questions. "What’s happening is you’re seeing Kathy Hochul really embarrassed. She’s blinking a lot and she’s looking down, smiling. She’s not handling this well," Glass stated.

During her opening statement, Hochul's struggle to find words was interpreted by Glass as a sign of defensiveness. The expert commented that this did not reflect well on an incumbent governor.

Blakeman, on the other hand, delivered direct answers and accusations, which Glass found to be effective. "There was also a lot of pause time where she had to take her time to manufacture an answer. Whereas Blakeman just went right to it and had answers right back to her and had accusations that were very, very straightforward towards her," Glass observed.

One notable exchange occurred when Blakeman questioned Hochul's response to the 2024 Cornell University gang rape accusations. He accused the governor of not leveraging her position on the university's board or the state's influence to ensure a swift investigation. "As a trustee and as governor, you didn’t call for an independent investigation when you found out that the district attorney was dropping the case. Shame on you," Blakeman asserted. Hochul responded by stating, "The university failed that young woman," while maintaining a blank expression.

Glass identified Blakeman's rapid blinking and jaw movements during the debate as indicators of anger, particularly when Hochul linked him to former President Trump. "He’s angry, and he wants to tell the truth, and wants to fight back," Glass said of Blakeman’s demeanor.

Despite Blakeman's aggressive debate performance, recent polls show him trailing Hochul by 9 to 11 points. Democrats hold a significant registration advantage in New York. Hochul, who assumed office in 2021 following Andrew Cuomo's resignation, has consistently polled as unpopular, yet Blakeman faces a challenging path to unseat the incumbent.

Election Day is scheduled for November 3.