Mamdani won on an anti-Israel populist campaign. Being in NYC, it was of course gay and brown, but you can replicate the anti-Israel populism elsewhere without that NYC baggage. It was basically "America First" but with NYC characteristics.
The important thing is that he wasn't going out of his way to make it an issue. If he had, he might have appeared as out of touch. He ran on affordability. They were constantly haranguing him about visiting Israel and running on the "Stop Antisemitism" party, and calling him a Jihadist.
Now, I'm no fan of Islam, and I generally don't want Muslims in office, but this far-left guy saying that queer liberation demands defunding the police clearly is no Jihadist.
His opponents did basically everything wrong.
"anti-Israel populism is a winning message even in America's most Jewish city, and you're blackpilling."
It won the primary at least. And then he won because most NYC'ers pull the lever for any D who hasn't disqualified himself. But it isn't a third rail, even though so many millions were spent against him.
All you have to do is say that you are putting America/NYC/whatever first and then you get to run against people like Randy Fine blowing a gasket. It's easy pickings. It's become "establishment coded."
Randy Fine is a caricature. As are types like Ted Cruz and Eyepatch McCain. The worse people are the ones who know how to play it. Didn't they spent $10 million removing Jamal Bowman, and not once did they mention Israel.
The important thing is that he wasn't going out of his way to make it an issue. If he had, he might have appeared as out of touch. He ran on affordability. They were constantly haranguing him about visiting Israel and running on the "Stop Antisemitism" party, and calling him a Jihadist.
Now, I'm no fan of Islam, and I generally don't want Muslims in office, but this far-left guy saying that queer liberation demands defunding the police clearly is no Jihadist.
His opponents did basically everything wrong.
It won the primary at least. And then he won because most NYC'ers pull the lever for any D who hasn't disqualified himself. But it isn't a third rail, even though so many millions were spent against him.
All you have to do is say that you are putting America/NYC/whatever first and then you get to run against people like Randy Fine blowing a gasket. It's easy pickings. It's become "establishment coded."
https://xcancel.com/martyrmade/status/1986494006029930586
Randy Fine is a caricature. As are types like Ted Cruz and Eyepatch McCain. The worse people are the ones who know how to play it. Didn't they spent $10 million removing Jamal Bowman, and not once did they mention Israel.