Zoran Mamdani’s Mayoral Candidacy Analyzed

On a recent show hosted by political analyst Mark Halperin, John Podhoretz asserted that the only genuine way for socialist Democrat candidate Zoran Mamdani to lose the New York mayoral race would be if both Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo decided to withdraw from the race. This commentary was made in light of a new poll presented during the broadcast.

According to a survey from Halperin, Mamdani currently leads a four-way contest with support from 39% of voters, while Cuomo trails at 21%, followed by Republican Curtis Sliwa at 18% and Adams at just 9%. Podhoretz emphasized the need for Adams and Cuomo to step aside so that the race could narrow down to a showdown between Mamdani and Sliwa.

He mentioned that this poll sheds light on Cuomo’s persistence in the race, noting that after a disappointing first round of ranked-choice voting, many thought Cuomo would bow out. However, he remains, driven by the belief that he could still win against Mamdani if he faces him directly.

Podhoretz continued by saying that while Cuomo sees himself as a strong contender, the real challenge could be Sliwa, who received a substantial number of votes in the previous election.

Mamdani secured the Democratic nomination in June but quickly attracted criticism from both sides for his refusal to denounce certain controversial policies he aims to implement if elected.

There were earlier speculations that Cuomo might withdraw following a potential loss to Mamdani, but he confirmed his continued participation in the race this past July.

Podhoretz reiterated that Mamdani’s path to losing hinges on both Cuomo and Adams stepping back, reasoning that, without them, Sliwa could become the only opposing candidate.

Halperin added that if they want to prevent a socialist from winning, the only viable alternative is Cuomo.

The recent polling data indicates Mamdani has captured support from 54% of Democrats, with considerably lower backing from independents and Republicans. Cuomo enjoys some support as well, particularly among independents. Meanwhile, Sliwa stands strong with Republican voters.

In one-on-one matchups, Mamdani surpasses Adams and Sliwa by solid margins. Still, he’s only slightly ahead in a direct contest with Cuomo.

Mamdani leads in key attributes that voters care about, notably being seen as a candidate who will “shake the system” and prioritize workers. Although he faces backlash for ambitious policies regarding wage increases and taxes, he’s garnered some democratic support from notable figures.

Prominent representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have endorsed his candidacy, while key Democratic leaders have largely remained silent in their support.