CNN Analyst Harry Enten Says Mamdani Remains Massive Frontrunner Despite Former Mayor’s Withdrawal
The sudden withdrawal of New York City Mayor Eric Adams from his re-election campaign on Sunday is predicted to have little impact on the race’s outcome, according to CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten.
Appearing on “CNN Newsroom” on Sunday, Enten characterized Adams’ departure as a “giant dud,” explaining that Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani remains the substantial frontrunner due to the opposition vote being split between former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
“With Adams out, that has the effect of being a giant dud. I don’t think it makes much of a difference at all,” Enten told host Jessica Dean.
Polling data supports this assessment.
With Adams in the race, Mamdani led by 19 points. With Adams out, Mamdani’s lead only slightly narrowed to 15 points, a margin Enten argues is negligible with just over a month remaining.
Mamdani currently holds 45% of the vote, with Cuomo trailing at 30% and Sliwa commanding about one-sixth of the vote. This split, Enten says, makes a Mamdani victory “pretty much impossible” to stop.
The analyst further explained that even if Sliwa were to exit, Cuomo would still trail Mamdani by 7%. Adams declined to endorse any remaining candidate in his announcement, taking veiled shots at both Mamdani and Cuomo.
Mamdani, who previously defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary, has a platform that includes raising the minimum wage to $30 and launching taxpayer-funded initiatives like government-run grocery stores.
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