(CNN) -- Republican Bob Turner on Tuesday won the special election in New York's heavily Democratic ninth congressional district -- pulling a huge upset that few would have predicted just months ago.
Turner ran against Democrat David Weprin in a heated, summer-long race that ignited Democratic fears of a quiet election morphing into a referendum on the party and President Barack Obama, ahead of next year's elections.
While I'm reluctant to draw too much from this upset win, it's hard not to think ahead to November 2012 with a little more optimism. The seat has been a Demo lock since the roaring '20s, and was open when Weiner stepped down because of his, err, extracurricular activities. A conservative Republican (talk about oxymoron) defeated a liberal Democrat in a traditionally liberal enclave. That's gotta leave a mark in the morning.
There's talk about the reason being Øbama's lackluster support for Israel and this being a rebuke from the Jewish community. It's possible this is the only reason; however even if this *is* the only reason, swing states like FL and PA have significant Jewish populations that could help turn the tide against Øbama - who's rockin' a 42% approval rating right now, nearly ten points lower than George W. Bush at the same point in his first time. That's gonna leave a mark in November.
May you live in interesting times indeed; and don't fear the Weiner...
That is all.
2 comments:
Maybe not a Ray of Hope, but a Lightning of the sky in the distance, perhaps? But remember, they aren't called Republitards for nothing! "Okay, who's NEXT in line for the Circular Firing Squad? Romney, you're up."
Hope? Too early to tell. Schadenfreude? You bet:
"I bet the Democrats are feeling SUPER GREAT about forcing Weiner out over a non-scandal scandal in NY-9 right about now. Idiots."
- Wil Wheaton, from Twitter.
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