Pollster Mark Penn, a longtime adviser to the Clintons, on Wednesday described Zohran Mamdani’s victory within the New York Metropolis Democratic mayoral primary as a “911 second” for the get together.
In an interview on Fox Information’s “America’s Newsroom,” the founding father of the Harris Ballot stated those that don’t wish to see Mamdani win in November ought to goal him each for his refusal to sentence calls to “globalize the intifada” and for his far-left financial insurance policies.
“Look, this can be a 911 second for the Democratic Get together, within the sense that he is an antisemitic socialist,” Penn stated, when requested which angle could be simpler to make use of towards him.
“I feel it’s a must to throw each of these issues at him as a result of he has actually not disavowed the worldwide intifada. He has probably not disavowed his feedback that we should always seize the technique of manufacturing,” Penn continued.
“He’s maybe probably the most excessive main candidate ever to win such a serious workplace,” he added.
Penn claimed the “main system has been hijacked” within the 2025 mayoral race, however stated it’s essential for opponents of Mamdani to not make the election a selection between Mamdani and President Trump.
“It’s completely important right here that this not develop into Mamdani versus Trump. That is his technique. If he can do away with the concept that there are two different candidates, or possibly one different candidate, opposing him and he is operating towards Trump, nicely, you recognize, he’ll win that one,” Penn stated.
Penn famous that greater than two-thirds of the town voted for the Democratic ticket through the 2024 presidential election.
Mamdani is ready to face off towards present Mayor Eric Adams as an unbiased candidate and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who misplaced to Mamdani within the main, has not dominated out a third-party run within the normal election.
Penn stated different Democrats must rally towards Mamdani to cease his momentum.
“And the opposite Democratic candidates have to come back in right here and say, ‘No, that is about the way forward for the town and the way we put it aside and the way we scale back crime, not defund it; how we deliver enterprise and jobs right here, not run them away; and the way we make Jews as snug as every other minority to reside in New York Metropolis,’” he stated.