Did Barack Obama just endorse Zohran Mamdani? Regardless of what recent reports have said, certain officials have firmly denied the implication. More importantly, they’ve held by the notion that the former American commander-in-chief was sticking to his “longstanding rule post-presidency,” and steering clear of hard-launching formal supports for either candidate contesting in the New York City mayoral elections.
In the past, the former Democratic US president endorse mayoral candidates Eric Garcetti, Rahm Emmanuel, and even Bill de Blasio. However, he has only backed one candidate for the mayor post since leaving office — Karen Bass in Los Angeles (2022).
Barack Obama’s phone call to Zohran Mamdani: Report
Just days ahead of the November 4 Election Day, reports started pouring in about a phone call interaction between former US President Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani. A New York Times article published two days ago cited two people who had been briefed on the development. Spilling the details of the said conversation on the condition of anonymity, the sources suggested that Obama was on Team Mamdani through-and-through.
As per their account, the ex-US leader was the one who rung up the NYC mayoral candidate’s number and praised his campaign. But that’s not all, he is even said to have offered to take on the role of a “sounding board” for the Indian-origin candidate in the future. Despite the reported positive discussion between the two, officials have dismissed the claims, maintaining that Obama had skipped out on publicly speaking out on the matter to “protect” Democrats.
Obama’s Mamdani endorsement claims rejected
Although endorsing mayoral candidates isn’t a thing of the new for Barack Obama, Mamdani campaign advisor Patrick Gaspard, who also served as director of White House Office of Political Affairs and US Ambassador to South Africa under Obama, has said otherwise this time.
“President Obama doesn’t endorse in local races,” Gaspard told the New York Post in the aftermath of the reported phone call news going viral online. Describing it as his “longstanding rule post-presidency,” the campaign advisor still emphasised that the Indian-origin assemblyman’s current presence in politics was crucial for New York.
Gaspard added, “He endorses in general election races for federal office and governors. His call to Zohran is a huge boost at a critical moment and a signal to New Yorkers.” In a recent interview, the campaign advisor said that the initial call between Obama and Mamdani took place in June, right after Democratic primary. Thereafter, the second interaction followed this past Saturday (US time).
Mamdani spokeswoman Dora Pekec also ended up indirectly confirming that the phone call between Mamdani and Obama had, in fact, happened. The official attached to the mayoral candidate’s mayoral contest further emphasised he “appreciated” the former president’s “words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city,” according to the NYT.
Obama not endorsing Mamdani to protect Democrats?
Although Mamdani is also a Democratic candidate in the NYC mayoral contest, some experts and officials suggested that Obama didn’t intend to back him publicly due to its concerning implications for others on the far-Left.
As the Muslim candidate continues to be dragged into controversial headlines over his “anti-billionaire” and other policies, The Post quoted Republican strategist Rob Ryan saying that even Obama acknowledged that Mamdani was “bad for New York and the Democratic Party.” He doubled down on the endorsement negation, adding, “Obama is trying to protect other Democrats from the stain of supporting a communist for mayor in America’s greatest city.”
The Republican expert’s claims now align with President Donald Trump calling Mamdani out as a “communist” during his Sunday ’60 Minutes’ interview on CBS News.
As mainstream and top Democrat figures have noticeably stayed out of the NYC mayoral election loop, Hank Sheinkopf, who was on Bill Clinton’s presidential re-election campaign team, told the New York Post, “Obama is being very careful.”
The veteran political consultant added, “An Obama endorsement of Mamdani could be used against Democrats across the country next year in close elections when they’re trying to back the House.”
On the flip side, Trump reluctantly pitched support for Mamdani’s rival Andrew Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary earlier this year. During his ’60 Minutes’ interaction with CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell, he said, “I’m not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other. But if it’s going to be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, I’m going to pick the bad Democrat all the time.”