Posted on 09/15/2011 8:21:15 PM PDT by neverdem
The Big Apple just dealt President Obama a big problem.
In a crushing blow to the White House and the Democratic Party, the seat once held by notorious sexter Anthony Weiner switched hands yesterday, with a longshot Republican now heading to the House of Representatives.
By linking the economic ennui of New York's ninth district (which spans parts of Brooklyn and Queens) to the President, and by making the administration's Middle East policy (specifically, the treatment of Israel) a hallmark of his campaign, former TV executive Bob Turner defeated state Assemblyman David Weprin by a stunning margin of 54% to 46% (with 84% of districts reporting as of late last night). Even 11th hour visits to the district to rally support by Democratic darlings Bill Clinton and Gov. Cuomo couldn't save the hapless Weprin.
But it's more than New York Democrats who are saying oy vey. The surprising loss of the Weiner seat is an indication of what's to come on the national stage, and why it's looking more likely that Republicans will retain control of the House, with the possibility of the Senate switching back to GOP hands also within reach (Republicans need to win a net of four seats in the Senate to gain a majority).
Despite big celebrations after the passage of Obamacare, the stimulus and financial reform legislation, Obama has given his party little to campaign on with his largely unpopular record, specifically when it comes to jobs. Republicans will spend millions of dollars linking their opponents to Obama and his record, and Democrats who run for office in 2012 will have no choice but to run away from the toxic President, even in what they may once have considered safely Democratic districts. They will exhaust their coffers either painting themselves as "independent" or ignoring Obama's agenda altogether, with incumbents doing everything they can to highlight key differences between their record and Obama's.
Having to spend so much money on defense will spread Democratic funds dangerously thin. In New York's ninth, national Democrats spent more than a half a million defending the Weiner seat, which they never suspected was vulnerable. Getting Democrats to blow critical campaign cash to protect even deeply blue districts is a Republican strategist's dream because it hinders their ability to be competitive elsewhere.
Think about it: If Obama is radioactive in New York City, imagine how his abysmal economic record will play in swing states like Missouri, Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania, where he is already suffering.
A new poll by the Third Way, a middle-of-the-road political group, shows Obama losing ground in 12 states crucial to his reelection hopes, reports USA Today, noting that "About 59% of 'switchers,' voters who backed Obama in 2008 but voted for a Republican in the midterm elections, say the President's party is more liberal than they are and that their political views align more closely with Republicans. Among the 400 switchers polled, 16% said they would vote for Obama again; 25% said they would back the Republican nominee and 59% were categorized as 'persuadable switchers.'"
And the Empire State upset wasn't the only trouncing the White House will have to grapple with. The news of the Turner win came as Republicans beat the Democrats in another special House election on Tuesday: In Nevada, Republican Mark Amodei triumphed over Democrat Kate Marshall, 58% to 36% (with 96% of votes counted).
Though the Nevada win wasn't exactly a surprise, it still points to the fact that Democrats won't have the luxury of putting Republican seats in play in 2012 with the Obama economy dangling from their necks and dragging down their efforts.
Lessons from last night's drubbing are sending shockwaves from Brooklyn to the Beltway. The message is clear. No seat is safe - especially not the one in the White House.
andrea@andreatantaros.com
Andrea Tantaros, whose column appears on Thursdays on NYDailyNews.com and often in the print edition of the newspaper, is a political commentator and co-host of The Five on The Fox News Channel. She previously served as a senior adviser on a number of political campaigns and as communications director for former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld and Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R-N.Y.) and on Capitol Hill as press secretary for Republican leadership. Tantaros lives in New York City.
Hey, RNC & RINOS, BUY A CLUE!!!
i ll take a vowel pat
It appears as though the ACORN and union knuckledraggers have really got their work cut out for them. 2012 could be tough. The presidency is REALLY going to cost them some dough this time around.
Andrea Tantaros—RULES!
It is a nice article, but it follows the New York Times’s lead in ignoring the repugnance with which the social conservatives regard Weprin’s vote in support of legalized gay marriage.
I think those who voted for Zero are getting that same feeling again. Since we always forget history, let's hope it repeats itself as described above.
bump
A big day will be October 3. On that day there will be exactly 400 days before we get to vote this guy out. (and 475 days before we throw him out)
I agree with you. In 2010 Carl Paladino had considerable support from NYC Hasids who objected to Andrew Cuomo’s in-your-face pro-gay position. That was a harbinger. And I’m sure it disgusted them even more that Weprin justified his support of gay marriage by saying it was an Orthodox Jewish value. I mean, he insulted what he claims to be his religion, right there. He may as well piss on the Torah as say something like that.
Hmmm, not the worst photo, but it looks like she’s lingered a bit too long at the sugar bowl there, as they used to say.
I went through start page and there wasn’t a lot to choose from. Let me search via another search engine.
An interesting observation, Dinkins and Obama. But people in NYC really believe that the “right liberal” can cure cancer and eveything else that is bad. They are waiting and watching for another special liberal to come forward.
There are better images via Yahoo, but I am unable to post them.
Not the right thread for it, but I will tell you all, no matter which republican gets the nomination, I am voting for him/her. Even a RINO is better than the communist regime we have now.
Maybe you'll like this one better...
I DO
I DO
I DO
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