Socialist upstart candidate Zohran Mamdani entered the first general mayoral election debate as the front-runner and left the same way –despite some strong performances from his rivals, a Post panel of political experts said.

Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa “did what they needed to do” Thursday by repeatedly hitting the Democratic candidate on tough issues like Israel, his past calls to defund the police and his lack of experience.

But it may still not be enough to move the needle. 4

“All the candidates did well – and that’s the problem for New Yorkers who don’t want a socialist mayor,” Republican strategist Bill O’Reilly told The Post.

“Will that be enough to change the nature of this race? We’ll see over the next few days.”

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