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Zokhran Mamdani's strong opposition to Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip is a decisive element of his political success, according to Patrick Gasparda longtime Democratic Party staffer who advises the mayoral candidate. In the last issue Right nowGaspard argued that Mamdani's position on Gaza resonated with Democrats who were disappointed with the party's leadership in Gaza, the defeat in the 2024 elections and Democrats' positions in Congress. refusal to stand up to Trump at the beginning of the second term. Gaspard compares the political implications of Mamdani's stance in Gaza to Barack Obama's opposition to the Iraq War, which many of his primary Democratic opponents initially supported in 2008. Gaspard, who was Obama's political director, says Mamdani uniquely combines “moral clarity,” “curiosity,” “grace” and the ability to be “nimble.” Polls show Mamdani may fall short with 50 percent of the votes. But Gaspard rejects the idea that Mamdani needs an absolute majority to win the mandate to lead New York. He notes that it is difficult to get 50 percent with multiple candidates and that both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump didn't get a majority but still governed aggressively as president.
