Young Politician Gets a Big Boost from Obama

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old New York mayoral hopeful, got a surprise call from former President Barack Obama. This chat happened just days before the big election on November 4. Mamdani is leading in the polls, leaving his main rival, Andrew Cuomo, far behind. Obama offered to be a sounding board for Mamdani, if he wins. This means Obama wants to give advice and support. Mamdani's team confirmed the call and said he appreciated Obama's words. They also talked about bringing fresh ideas to the city. Mamdani's campaign has been impressive. He won the mayoral primary on June 24, surprising many. Since then, big names like Kamala Harris and Kathy Hochul have backed him. Plus, he's got a lot of small donors supporting him financially.But Mamdani's policies are making some people nervous. He wants to raise taxes on the rich and big companies. He also wants to freeze rent prices and build more public housing. Some worry this could hurt New York's economy. Mamdani's rise is a big deal for the Democratic Party. They need to attract young voters, but his ideas might make them more vulnerable to criticism. He's not afraid to speak his mind, especially on topics like Israel and democratic socialism. Meanwhile, Obama was busy this weekend. He rallied for other Democratic candidates too, like Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia. Both are in tight races.