The special election to succeed disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., was supposed to be a safe affair for Democrats. But President Obama’s rising unpopularity in a district he won easily in 2008 is giving Republicans a chance to make the contest closer than it should be. Even if Republican Bob Turner pulls close to Democrat David Weprin, that could serve as an early warning about 2012 for Democrats and Obama.
The election in Nevada’s 2nd District, also on September 13, was expected to be the better bellwether for 2012. In that Reno district, Obama and his 2008 Republican presidential rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, fought to a near-tie. Instead, it’s the Queens- and Brooklyn-based district where the president won by 11 points and where Democrats hold a 133,000-voter edge in registration that’s shaping up as the tighter of the two races.
The election in Nevada’s 2nd District, also on September 13, was expected to be the better bellwether for 2012. In that Reno district, Obama and his 2008 Republican presidential rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, fought to a near-tie. Instead, it’s the Queens- and Brooklyn-based district where the president won by 11 points and where Democrats hold a 133,000-voter edge in registration that’s shaping up as the tighter of the two races.