NYC Mayoral Race: Cuomo and Mamdani Clash in Final Days

The final stretch of New York City's Democratic mayoral primary has seen a heated exchange between frontrunner Andrew Cuomo and challenger Zohran Mamdani. The battleground? Millions of dollars in campaign funding and Mamdani's stance on the phrase "globalize the intifada."

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Cuomo, supported by an $8.3 million super PAC funded by Michael Bloomberg, has criticized Mamdani's response to the controversial phrase. Many interpret it as a call for violence against Jews, although Mamdani denies inciting violence and states the phrase has varying interpretations.

Meanwhile, Mamdani has slammed Bloomberg's contribution as an attack on democracy, arguing it reflects Bloomberg's vision of New York as a "luxury product" rather than a city for working- and middle-class people. He also pointed to the NYPD's post-9/11 surveillance of Muslims under Bloomberg's administration.

Brad Lander, another candidate, has tried to navigate the controversial issue, stating that while he does not like the phrase, he believes Mamdani will protect Jewish New Yorkers' rights. Lander has cross-endorsed with Mamdani.

Adding to the drama, Mamdani's campaign revealed an NYPD investigation into a car bomb threat against him. Mamdani suggests the threat is a consequence of the "dehumanizing, Islamophobic rhetoric" used in the campaign.

Cuomo has also questioned Mamdani's experience for the mayoral role, while Mamdani has defended his record and pointed to Cuomo's own controversies.

The race is expected to be close, with recent polls showing Mamdani in second place behind Cuomo and Lander in third. The primary is June 24th.