Republican’s lead in N.Y. election for Weiner’s seat shows Democrats’ vulnerability

[alp227]

by Chris Cillizza, Washington Post

New York’s 9th Congressional District isn’t the likeliest place for a national political referendum.

Vice President Al Gore won it with 67 percent of the vote in 2000, and Barack Obama carried it by 11 percentage points eight years later. It has been held by a string of high-profile Democrats — including Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and the late Geraldine Ferraro — for decades.

And yet, the special election set for Tuesday in the Brooklyn and Queens areas between state Assemblyman David Weprin (D) and businessman Bob Turner (R) — a race occasioned by the scandal and subsequent resignation of Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) — is surprisingly close, the result, many observers suggest, of the toxic national political environment and Obama’s low poll ratings.

“Obama wins no popularity contests here,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic consultant in New York.

In a Siena College poll released late last week, Turner held a six-point edge over Weprin. Obama’s approval rating stood at 43 percent, with 54 percent disapproving.

(...)

Republicans — and even some Democrats — are painting the race as an Obama referendum. Ed Koch, a Democratic former mayor of New York, endorsed Turner and likened the impact of his possible victory to that of Republican Scott Brown in 2010 in the special Senate election in Massachusetts. A vote for Turner, Koch said, would “register a protest against the positions of President Obama and the Republican leadership on a number of key issues.”

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-lead-in-ny-election-for-weiners-seat-shows-democrats-vulnerability/2011/09/11/gIQAw1nzKK_story.html

Isn't Koch (unrelated to the oil magnates) a DLC type who supported Bush in 2004?

[FrenchieCat]

1. There we go!

Let's just sit and watch.....
after all, that is just about all that we do, isn't it?

Well, I'm donating to Weprin....perhaps, it will help,
if only just a little! :(

[rfranklin]

2. Elect a Republican you assholes, that will surely fix everything...

what the fuck are these people thinking?

[caber09]

3. I am from this district, just moved out, my dad & friends still live there..

Everyone I know is voting Weprin, I cannot imagine how a district thats almost 4:1 in favor of D's, and probably wouldve reelected Weiner even after the pictures (especially after a year+ passed in Nov 12), is going to vote for Tea Party Turner. Fact: He has NO ground game and NO money, Weprin has thousands of volunteers, very strong ground game, and much much more $$$. Anything is possible, esp with the polls...but it makes ZERO sense to me. I will be depressed if this happens, I lived there until this past year, I cannot fathom this district going red....hopefully turnout will be good and the polls wrong.

[OswegoAtheist]

4. every special election...

...since Obama was sworn in has been a "referendum" on Obama. Except when we won, of course; even in my district (NY 23), when a Dem won for the first time in hundreds of years in an election that Conservatives thought they were going to win, it wasn't a referendum anymore, it was a "warning shot" at Obama by Teabaggers.

Oswego "I wish DU had a rolleyes smiley" Atheist

[Indykatie]

5. Could Some of the Problem be Backlash Against Wiener Being Forced Out

Not that staying home or supporting the republican is a reasonable response in my opinion but still a possibility.

[bemildred]

6. More pseudo-expert political babble. nt