Obama's call to Mamdani 'normalizes' the democratic socialist candidate, Sharpton says

"It gives the sense that President Obama's world is comfortable with his candidacy. It normalizes him," Sharpton said.

"It helps with the perception of some people that Mamdani is too radical. It sends a message that he is not unacceptable," the political activist and MSNBC host added.

A source in Mamdani's campaign told the Post they hope Obama's interest leads to an endorsement. Notably, top New York Democratic Party leaders, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have not endorsed the progressive candidate.

According to the Times, several other prominent figures in Obama's orbit have been in regular contact with Mamdani's team.

Former Obama aide Ben Rhodes wrote a guest essay in the paper this week urging the Democratic establishment to embrace Mamdani's strategy as a model for the party's future.

The progressive Muslim candidate also faced backlash in June after dodging an interview question about whether he condemned the phrase, "globalize the intifada." At the time, Sharpton called on the front-runner to meet with Jewish leaders and make it clear that he doesn't support antisemitism.

"He's running for mayor of New York. You need to take off the table, 'Do you support international intifada?' Period. Not go around it," Sharpton said during an MSNBC segment in June. "I understand you don't want to be forced into something, but I don't think that's what he stands for from what he said to us. And he should say that outright."

Fox News' Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.