77 WABC hosts have a long history of either teasing a run or actually running for mayor of New York City. Sid Rosenberg might find himself in the middle of that as station owner John Catsimatidis wants to debate Curtis Sliwa as the two could vie for the Republican nomination.
In recent years, Sliwa has run for mayor, afternoon host Greg Kelly has teased a potential run, and Catsimatidis considered a run in 2009 before losing the Republican primary in the city in 2013.
During Sid and Friends in the Morning on Friday, Sid Rosenberg shared that Curtis Sliwa had welcomed John Catsimatidis to the race, with the Guardian Angels founder stating that he would “kill” the billionaire at the ballot box. That’s when Rosenberg revealed that the 77 WABC owner had approached him about moderating a debate between the two potential candidates.
“John sends me a text and he goes ‘Debate. Debate between me and Curtis Sliwa. And Sid, you’re the moderator,'” Rosenberg shared.
Sliwa argued that Rosenberg — despite the insistence from Catsimatidis that he would be unbiased — would be more biased “than that pretty boy David Muir,” who moderated the presidential debate Tuesday evening for ABC News.
“This guy is beholden to John Catsimatidis,” Sliwa posited. “
Rosenberg defended himself from the accusation.
“I put you on the air here every day, I tell everyone how great you are, and I give you all the credit,” said Rosenberg. “And you think I’ll play favorites with John?”
“Do I sign your paychecks?” Sliwa responded.
“You’re right,” Rosenberg admitted.
Sliwa did lighten the mood by joking that — to throw him off his game — Catsimatidis was likely to bring Sliwa’s four ex-wives to the debate. “That would totally unnerve me,” he admitted.
Rosenberg concluded by noting that if Curtis Sliwa didn’t debate John Catsimatidis, he would have to debate other potential Republican candidates should he run for office in the upcoming mayoral election.
