The seven candidates for governor of New York squared off in a debate last night at Hofstra University.

To view the entire debate, go to Channel 612 on your iO Digital Cable Box and select iO Extra or Island Vote '10.

Political analysts are calling the debate civil and calm, broken by the occasional joke from one of the third-party candidates.

The seven candidates in the debate were Andrew Cuomo, Democratic Party; Carl Paladino, Republican Party; Howie Hawkins, Green Party; Warren Redlich, Libertarian Party; Charles Barron, Freedom Party; Kristin Davis, Anti-Prohibition Party and Jimmy McMillan, Rent Is 2 Damn High Party.

While many of the candidates agreed with each other in principle on some topics such as the MTA, Medicaid, and education costs, Cuomo and Paladino were sharply divided on other issues.

Cuomo spoke heavily about how government is bloated saying, "We have too many governments in the state of New York? You have to consolidate those governments. We can't afford them anymore."

Paladino criticized Cuomo's alleged plan to clean up Albany by laying off large numbers of state employees.

The sharpest divide came on the final question of the debate when each candidate was asked if they support gay marriage.

Cuomo says he strongly supports gay marriage and Paladino, in light of previous comments regarding homosexuality and gay marriage, expectedly said he does not support it. Jimmy McMillan of the Rent Is 2 Damn High Party said "if you want to marry a shoe, I'll marry you."

Complete Gubernatorial Debate