Weprin Blames Loss on Unpopular Obama

By Forward Staff September 16, 2011

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.

“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

The Forward’s staff contributors are listed in our masthead.

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’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO