The Cuomo campaign is gleefully forwarding around this clip from a Vermont station TV of Carl Paladino getting huffy during a live interview and walking off, leaving a female reporter high and dry.

The moment occurred when WCAX TV 3 ‘s (aptly named, in this case) Kristin Carlson, the station’s senior political reporter, was pressing Paladino on whether he believed his comment about Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand being Sen. Chuck Schumer’s “little girl” was sexist and if he worried it would hurt him with women voters – a key segment of the voting public.

The interview didn’t start well, as the station was experiencing some technical difficulties while trying to conduct what we in the bizz call a “talk-back” with Paladino, who was campaigning in Plattsburgh).

Carlson also didn’t beat around the bush, asking the candidate why he was bothering to stump in an area already considering GOP territory, adding: “Is this a sign of a campaign in trouble?”

The Gillibrand question was Carlson’s second. Paladino first said he didn’t want to talk about NY’s junior senator. But then responded that he didn’t regret his comment and didn’t believe it was anti-woman, saying:

“I was referring to the fact that Miss. Gillibrand seems to vote exactly as Mr. Schumer directs her to. She doesn’t show any mind of her own in voting, and that’s why I referred to her that way.”

When Carlson presisted on the subject of sexism and Republican concern about his comments, Paladino lost patience, saying “absolutely not” and asking to discuss “issues.” He then added: “Are we going to talk issues, or am I leaving you right now?”

Carlson insisted “Well, I think this is about issues, sir.” Paladino apparently disagreed, because he took out his earpiece, saying “you have a nice day, Kristin, OK?” As he walked away he muttered: “I think we’re done talking to this lady.”

(WCAX is a CBS affiliate based in Burlington, but it also airs in the New York North Country).

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