Defeated Democratic Congressional candidate David Weprin blamed President Barack Obama’s unpopularity for sinking his race to hold Anthony Weiner’s old seat.

Weprin, who was trounced by Republican Bob Turner, told reporters that voters wanted to send a message of discontentment to the White House.

“The message of the campaign was ‘Send Obama a message,’ ” Weprin, a state lawmaker, told The New York Post. “I think the problem was that he’s the president and people are frustrated, and it’s just natural to take it out on the top guy or the top guy’s party.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“As much as I tried to make it about David Weprin or Bob Turner, I don’t think that resonated to voters. I think that voters looked at it as a referendum on the president,’’ Weprin added.

Weprin, an Orthodox Jew, spoke a day after Democratic strategists lashed out at Queens Democratic boss Joe Crowley for picking Weprin, whom they branded a lackluster candidate.

Democrats outnumber Republicans by 3-to-1 in the district, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens and it is one of the most heavily Jewish districts in the nation.

Turner’s stay in office may be limited since the seat may be eliminated when New York undergoes redistricting next year to eliminate two seats.

Weiner resigned in disgrace amid a scandal over racy text messsages he sent to women.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/was_sunk_by_obama_weprin_QKC6GKu5K9Cvrlz3FlI4EL#ixzz1Y77hkgYK

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. We’ve started our Passover Fundraising Drive, and we need 1,800 readers like you to step up to support the Forward by April 21. Members of the Forward board are even matching the first 1,000 gifts, up to $70,000.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism, because every dollar goes twice as far.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Make your Passover gift today!

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount