Another new poll shows independent Andrew Cuomo now trailing Democrat frontrunner Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayor's race by just 10 points. 

A Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday has Mamdani holding his lead with 43%, Cuomo in second with 33%, Sliwa in third with 14%, while 6% remain undecided. Mamdani's support among likely voters has slipped from 46% in an Oct. 9 Quinnipiac poll. 

"The candidates have made their case, early voting is underway, Zohran Mamdani has a 10-point lead over Andrew Cuomo with Curtis Sliwa a distant third, but one wild card remains. The percentage of likely voters not weighing in has increased a bit since earlier this month, suggesting there's room for movement in the final stretch," said Quinnipiac University poll assistant director Mary Snow.   

Earlier this week, a Suffolk University Boston poll also showed Mamdani with a 10-point advantage over Cuomo, but that gap had been 20 points a month ago. 

The Quinnipiac poll says the most important issues for voters are crime, affordable housing, inflation and health care, in that order. Roughly 911 people participated in this poll.

"Make no mistake: The race is tightening, and Andrew Cuomo is closing in fast," Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said. "That's how you win in New York City.  We've seen this movie before — in the Bloomberg and Giuliani races, late polls missed the surge of real, working-class voters who turn out when it counts. The same thing is happening now."

Mamdani picks up unexpected endorsement

After being highly outspoken against Mamdani's policies, a group of bodega owners is now supporting him in the New York City's mayor's race. 

Mamdani's latest endorsement came Wednesday morning from the United Bodegas of America, whose members have been vocal critics of the Democratic socialist and frontrunner in the race. 

"This is a campaign of store clerks and bodega owners. Andrew Cuomo's campaign is for Donald Trump's billionaire donors and their conglomerates," Mamdani said Wednesday. 

Just a few months ago, the United Bodegas of America blasted Mamdani's plan to create a network of five city-owned grocery stores, calling the idea foolish and saying it will be harmful to private businesses. On Wednesday morning, the president of the group stood behind behind Mamdani, saying the Queens assemblyman wants to make the city affordable for everyone. 

"We are proud to stand by Zohran Mamdani, a candidate who understands the struggle of everyday New Yorkers," UBA President Radahmes Rodriguez said. 

Mamdani placed his order for his preferred version of one of the city's most affordable breakfasts. He ordered eggs, cheese and jalapenos on a roll. 

"I'm on a BEC agenda. It's not a bacon, egg and cheese. It's bringing economic change," Mamdani said.

Fernando Mateo, who found the United Bodegas of America, resigned in protest, calling the endorsement "a betrayal" and saying the organization should not make endorsements.

Pushback on Mamdani's free bus proposal

Mamdani faced some unexpected blowback from MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber, who questioned why rich people should benefit from Mamdani's free bus proposal. 

"I want to make sure that people of limited income get priority in this discussion, that we're not just giving a ton of money to people who are riding the 104 on the Upper West Side, where I grew up, the bus on Broadway," Lieber said. 

Cuomo was quick to pile on. 

"That's Janno Lieber. What he's saying is it would take a lot of years to study, which is a politic way of saying it's a dumb idea." Cuomo said. 

"I'm not dropping out," Sliwa says

Sliwa, meanwhile, once again railed against calls for him to leave the race. He was asked if, as a person who clearly loved the city, he is worried that his candidacy will put a democratic socialist into City Hall. 

"Let me just say to everybody, first, I'm not dropping out. Number two, if a Mack truck hit me, and I was turned into a speed bump out here, I'm still on the ballot," Sliwa said. 

Cuomo picked up the endorsement of moderate Long Island Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi on Wednesday. 

"I cannot back a declared socialist with a thin résumé to run the most complex city in America," Suozzi wrote on social media.

"I'm grateful to have Congressman Tom Suozzi's support as we head into early voting. I've known Tom for many years — he's smart, results-driven, and a true public servant who delivers for the people he represents. His kind of common-sense leadership is exactly what New York needs, and I look forward to partnering with him to make our city safer, stronger, and more livable," Cuomo said.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg also reiterated his support for Cuomo after endorsing him in the primary.

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler appeared on WABC radio's "Sid & Friends in The Morning" and opined on the race. 

"I don't like Andrew Cuomo. I have been very clear about my problems with Andrew Cuomo," Lawler said. 

Lawler added Sliwa "obviously is not getting out of this race."

"I think this is about the s****iest choice I've ever seen in a mayor's race," Lawler said. "In this instance, between Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, it's not even close."

Cuomo, Sliwa head to Staten Island

Sliwa and Cuomo headed to Staten Island on Wednesday to woo Republican voters. Staten Island is often regarded as the forgotten borough, but this mayor's race, it's critical for both Cuomo and Sliwa. Both men were seeking support there, with Cuomo hoping to steal Republican support from Sliwa by saying a vote for him is effectively a vote for Mamdani.

"What I'm saying to Republicans is in this race they are pivotal," Cuomo said. "I agree with President Trump who said Curtis Sliwa is not ready for primetime."

Wednesday's Quinnipiac University Poll shows Cuomo is edging out Sliwa 45% to 44% among Republican voters.

Sliwa went to an early voting polling location, potentially violating state election laws that ban electioneering in a polling place and within 100 feet of its entrance. CBS News New York spotted Sliwa talking to voters with ballots in their hands and to voters outside a polling location. 

A spokesperson for the Sliwa campaign said he did nothing wrong, and other candidates have done the same thing. 

"Curtis was at a site briefly to greet poll workers, and as often happens with a popular candidate, several people walked up to him to express their support and well wishes. At no point did he solicit votes or violate any law," a campaign spokesperson said.

Voter enthusiasm remains high

Voter enthusiasm remains high during early voting. Some early polling sites have reported wait times longer than 50 minutes. 

Nearly 300,000 New Yorkers have cast a ballot during the first four days of early voting, vastly outpacing early voting turnout in the 2021 mayoral election.