During the campaign, Dillon attacked Cahn for a poor record of cooperation with federal authorities in his capacity as District Attorney, saying that "not once" during Dillon's time as the Eastern District's organized crime chief had Cahn's office shared information with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and that it had "seriously weakened federal law enforcement efforts" in the county. Dillon also attacked Cahn for having a lackluster conviction rate, saying that from 1970 to 1973, Nassau County had the highest rate of acquittals and cases dismissed prior to trial compared to Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties, while having the lowest conviction rate, something Dillon compared to "leading the league in errors, strikeouts, and men left on base". Cahn responded by accusing Dillon's campaign of cherry picking counties with a low case load for comparison, pointing out that many of the pre-trial dismissals were due to a diversion program not available in the other counties, and criticizing Dillon for being interested in "box score justice". Dillon further attacked Cahn for politicizing the office by submitting his proposed appointees for Assistant District Attorney positions for approval from the county's Republican Party, which resulted in 99 of the office's 100 attorneys being registered Republicans. Despite Cahn's weaknesses and having run a strong campaign, Dillon was outspent by a $300,000 to $30,000 margin and was not expected to win on election day. Dillon's victory was assisted by the unexpectedly strong coattails of successful Democratic gubernatorial nominee Hugh Carey, who won an upset victory in the county against the prediction of county Republican polling, and the general bad climate for Republicans in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. Dillon was unanimously re-nominated for District Attorney by the Nassau County Democratic Committee, later receiving the Liberal and Conservative Party endorsements as well. Dillon was also under consideration for the Republican line, but was urged to decline a cross endorsement by Democratic leaders who feared it would help Republican candidates downballot. Republicans nominated Hempstead Town Councilman Gregory P. Peterson, the only individual actively campaigning, to face Dillon in the general election. Dillon was favored throughout the race, but Peterson went on the offensive, criticizing Dillon for his personal opposition to capital punishment, and what he felt was soft enforcement on marijuana and organized crime. Dillon countered by declaring that he would put aside his personal view and enforce any new capital punishment statute should the legislature implement it, and cited his work at the Department of Justice against the Colombo crime family in response to Peterson's claims on organized crime prosecutions.