Metro

Send in clowns for gov debate

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ALBANY — Waiting to see Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino finally go toe-to-toe in the race to be ringmaster of the Bozo circus known as Albany? Don’t hold your breath.

Tonight’s crowded gubernatorial debate promises to be heavy on theatrics and light on substance as each of the seven candidates, including a former Black Panther, a convicted felon and the representative of the Rent is Too Damn High Party, get equal time on the stage at Hofstra University.

“If you take the Lincoln-Douglas debates and put them on one end of the spectrum, this one will probably be at the other end,” said Marist College pollster Lee Miringoff.

The format — accepted by Democrat Cuomo after demands by Republican Paladino — arguably puts the GOP candidate at a disadvantage as he attempts to recover from two weeks of gaffes and political setbacks.

His efforts to draw Cuomo into a fight will get competition from five other candidates anxious to earn their 15 minutes of fame by knocking the disciplined attorney general off message.

The minor-party candidates include those to Cuomo’s political right, such as Libertarian Warren Redlich, and those to his left, such as City Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), the ex-Black Panther, who has denounced the lack of an African-American candidate on the Democratic slate.

Also on stage will be self-proclaimed “Manhattan Madam” Kristin Davis, who claims to have provided former Gov. Eliot Spitzer with hookers and spent four months in jail for promoting prostitution.

Rounding out the field will be Howie Hawkins, of the Green Party, and the flamboyantly mustachioed Jimmy McMillan, who’s battling high rents.

The debate comes amid a new New York Times poll that predicts the race will be a blowout for Cuomo, with him leading Paladino, 59 to 24 percent.

Paladino’s campaign manager, Michael Caputo, said last week that the Republican sought the debate’s open format out of respect for the minor-party candidates’ efforts to be a part of it.

“That isn’t exactly the best thing for Carl Paladino,” Caputo said. “It also gives Andrew Cuomo some cover. But Carl is honest. He just didn’t think it was fair” to exclude the candidates.

The debate, during which three journalists will ask the candidates questions, will be broadcast live from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on NY1, YNN (upstate) and News 12 (Long Island).