See It: De Blasio, Albanese Face Off in First Mayoral Debate

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his Democratic challenger Sal Albanese went head-to-head for 90 minutes at Symphony Space on the Upper West Side.

Watch the debate here:

Here are five things to watch for:

When Sal goes low, can Bill go high? (h/t Michelle Obama)

Albanese enters the debate lagging severely in the polls and the money race. Expect him to come out swinging: he will take aim at issues big and small — from the mayor’s punctuality (or lack thereof) to allegations of a pay-to-play culture at City Hall. For Albanese, who's in his fourth bid for mayor, it’s all about gaining traction and raising his own visibility.

For Mayor de Blasio, the debate will be a test of whether he can take the high road, or if he feels compelled to strike back. As the incumbent, he has accomplishments he can tout. But de Blasio isn’t afraid to spar if he perceives someone is taking a cheap shot. Can de Blasio defend himself without going overboard, or will Albanese bring him down into the mud?

How do they compare their records?

Both men have served in public office, both representing Brooklyn. Albanese was the City Council member for Bay Ridge and surrounding areas for 15 years starting in 1983. De Blasio occupied Park Slope's Council seat from 2002 through 2009, with a four-year stint as public advocate before being elected mayor in 2013.

Albanese made his name as a reformer, pushing campaign finance reform and higher salaries for city workers. But he left elected office 20 years ago and has worked in the private sector since. How will Albanese's record of public service hold up against the mayor's?

What’s their vision for the next four years?

In the 2013 campaign, de Blasio pledged to end "The Tale of Two Cities.” In 2017, the campaign’s new tag line is “This Is Your City.” Over the coming four years, de Blasio has vowed to remain focused on fairness and affordability. The debate will be a chance to lay out what that promise will mean for New Yorkers across an array of policy matters, from education to criminal justice.

Albanese presents himself as the populist alternative to de Blasio. His slogan, "Let's Make a Better New York," implies that de Blasio's New York is not good enough. He has proposals for housing, small business, education, public safety, political reform, transportation and animal care. This will be his prime-time chance to make his case that his ideas are better.

Who wins the room?

The debate viewers at Symphony Space will be the first to offer their reaction to the press covering the event. The impressions they share will help shape the coverage over the next three weeks and determine which candidate comes out a winner on Sept. 12. Debate moderators generally tell the audience to refrain from applause. But debates often have at least one moment where the audience spontaneously erupts — and that outburst will likely aid one candidate and hurt the other.

Who owns the Twitterverse?

It’s not just the candidates who will be working hard tonight. Their campaign teams, surrogates and supporters will be on Twitter framing and fact-checking what they hear. If a candidate makes a gaffe, or there is standout moment, it will take on second and third lives in 140 characters. And this may be the only exposure some voters have to the candidates.