Will Trump's support win Cuomo last-minute surge or could it hurt him?

"As his hometown of New York votes for its next mayor, United States President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat and former New York state governor who is standing as an independent this time. The Republican president's endorsement of Cuomo who lost the Democratic primary to self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in June came just hours before polling booths opened on Tuesday in the closely watched election. Trump has called Mamdani, a Muslim immigrant who is campaigning on a promise to make New York more affordable for its residents via rent freezes and universal childcare, a communist. He has also threatened to withhold federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins."

"I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Mamdani is currently leading in the polls with 46 percent support a double-digit lead over Cuomo's 32 percent. The Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, is trailing in third place at 16 percent. Trump discouraged voters from choosing Sliwa, saying: A vote for Curtis Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani."

"Trump's support for Cuomo, who stepped down as governor of New York in 2021 amid sexual misconduct allegations, appears largely driven by his opposition to Mamdani. Mamdani has denied Trump's description of him as a communist. In June, PolitiFact debunked claims that Mamdani is a communist. Communism involves a centrally planned econo"

President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani. Trump characterized Mamdani as a communist, threatened to withhold federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins, and urged voters against Curtis Sliwa by saying a Sliwa vote equals a Mamdani vote. Mamdani leads polls with roughly 46 percent versus Cuomo's 32 percent and Sliwa's 16 percent. Cuomo previously resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual misconduct allegations. PolitiFact debunked claims that Mamdani is a communist.

Read at www.aljazeera.com