Knives Out After Democrats Lose Weiner’s Seat
Democrats from the White House to Congress and the streets of Queens were pointing fingers at one another after the humiliating loss of a longtime Democratic-held seat to Republicans.
The Daily News reported that many operatives were blaming Queens party leader Rep. Joe Crowley for picking lackluster candidate David Weprin, who lost miserably to the GOP’s Bob Turner.
Crowley mistakenly believed the seat was safe and picked Weprin because he was seen as being no threat to his own leadership, a mistake strategists called “toxic.”
Others blamed the poor state of the economy and voters desire to send a message of discontentment to President Barack Obama.
Obama’s perceived tepid support of Israel could give the GOP openings elsewhere, the New York TIme reported, especially with Obama on the spot over the Palestinians looming bid for statehood at the United Nations.
Turner, taking a victory round, will be a major target for Democrats, since the district has been in their hands for recent memory. It likely won’t survive next year’s redistricting battle, since New York state will lose two seats.
THe working class district, which includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens, was represented by Weiner until he resigned in a scandal over inappropriate text messages he sent to women.
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