Barack Obama, the former president, telephoned Zohran Mamdani, the frontrunner in the New York City mayoral election, three days before the election to express his backing.
The 64-year-old Democrat volunteered to act as a “sounding board” for Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who is still ahead in the polls.
Dora Pekec, Mamdani’s spokesperson, told Fox News Digital, “Zohran Mamdani valued President Obama’s supportive remarks and their discussion about the significance of introducing a fresh approach to politics in our city.”
Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, who is running as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa are Mamdani’s primary rivals.
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Sliwa’s campaign informed Fox News Digital that they had no comment regarding the call.
Mamdani defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary last summer.
Obama’s phone call to Mamdani coincided with his campaign appearances in Virginia for Abigail Spanberger and in New Jersey for Mikie Sherrill. Both Democrats are competing in tight gubernatorial races in their respective states.
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Both women are running for governor as Democrats.
According to The New York Times, citing two individuals with knowledge of the conversation, Obama told Mamdani during the 30-minute private conversation, “Your campaign has been impressive to watch.”
According to the newspaper, Obama has not formally endorsed Mamdani because he pledged not to meddle in municipal elections, and this was the second call between the two men since the Democratic primary.
Obama spoke with Mamdani as some establishment Democrats, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, have distanced themselves from the progressive leader.
