In an era of Clintonesque caution, when Democrats typically mute any expression of their leftward leanings, Bill de Blasio, who will almost certainly be elected mayor of New York City two weeks from now, does not concede an inch to the right. …
Does the advent of a new era of urban populism under de Blasio suggest that the country is moving in a decisively liberal direction? It may be, rather, that the rise of de Blasio signals the growing strength of liberal forces within the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, a development that may actually work to prevent this wing from leading the entire country to the left. CONT.
Tom Edsall (Columbia U.), New York Times