Open Thread: Can Democrats Keep Weiner's Seat?

September 9th, 2011 9:34 AM

While former Rep. Anthony Weiner's district is not always a Democratic stronghold, it does tend to vote more liberally. David Weprin, the Democratic New York State assemblyman running in the special election for Weiner's former seat is not the greatest candidate, either. A few weeks ago, he told a newspaper that he thought the national debt was around only $4 trillion. With a weak Democratic candidate, some are wondering if Republican Bob Turner can take the seat, and if he does, hold it in the November election as well.

So far, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already spent nearly $500,000 in TV ad spots in the district, which began airing yesterday and will continue through Monday. The Democratic House Majority PAC has also bought additional advertising time to support Weprin. If Turner still pulls a win, do you think he could also hold the seat in November if a stronger candidate ran against him? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Just hours after the DCCC's ads began airing, though, they had to pull one that showed Weprin's jet flying low over Manhattan, only days before the tenth anniversary of 9/11. That wasn't the only stumble for Weprin, either. Another influential Democratic assemblyman actually endorsed Turner for his background as a businessman and as a "message to President Obama about his failed, disastrous economic policies...". 

Do you think a Republican win in Queens, NY would send a strong message to Obama about his failed policies? Or do you think Democrats can find a stronger candidate than Weprin in November if Weprin doesn't win the special election?