How did Mamdani take NYC against a filthy-rich opponent (Cuomo) with literal billionaires and the national conservative machine standing against him?

AOC was a bartender and took her House seat, untouchable now.

Obama was a nobody from Illinois. People heard him speak at the 2004 Democratic National Convention (me included!) and jumped onboard.

Clinton took the Presidency from being an unheard of governor of a hick state nobody cared about. And a democrat of that state no less!

They all did it without big money, against wealthier opponents and won by talking to their people and listening. The formula works.