'No one’s knocking me down': Scott Stringer vows to fight on after losing supporters in NYC mayoral race

(Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

By Brian Brant 

(NEW YORK) Embattled New York City mayoral candidate Scott Stringer is vowing to move forward with his campaign amid the fallout of a sexual assault accusation and the loss of high-profile endorsements, according to Politico. 

“No one’s knocking me down," Stringer said at the Evening Star Baptist Church in Brooklyn on Sunday. "I’m going to stand straight up. I’m going to make my case. I’m going to make sure that people hear what I have to say."

Former campaign volunteer, Jean Kim, publicly accused Stringer of groping and kissing her when he was running for New York City public advocate 20 years ago.

New York Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, City Council Members Mark Levine and Diana Ayala, Assemblymember Carmen De La Rosa, state Sen. José Serrano and a coalition of Muslim groups dropped their endorsement of Stringer on Saturday after Kim came forward with her allegation.

The Working Families Party, progressive Sens. Alessandra Biaggi, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Assemblymembers Yuh-Line Niou and Catalina Cruz as well as freshman New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman withdrew their support on Friday.

“You lose some old friends, you’ve got to make new friends,” Stringer said to reporters on Sunday. “So I’m out campaigning and running for mayor.” When asked who those new friends would be, he said, “We’ll see on Election Day.”

Stringer rebutted Kim's allegations saying he had an on and off-again consensual relationship with her and has continued to deny her account of events.

“I want to say, without any hesitation, a total, absolute, categorical denial of every one of these allegations,” he said. “This is not how I talk. This is not how I act.”

Stringer, the City Comptroller, said he believed Rep. Jerry Nadler and the United Federation of Teachers, plan to stick with him.

Nadler and the UTO confirmed their support with Politico.

“I have known Scott to be a man of enduring character and integrity," Nadler said. "Scott has clearly stated that there is no basis to these allegations, and I continue to support his candidacy."

Despite the calls to drop out by several of his opponents, Stringer has vowed to fight on.

“Stay tuned," he said. "Tell everyone to save me a seat on the debate stage. I can’t wait for that."

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