A newly released poll by Public Policy Polling confirms the 6-point lead held by Republican Bob Turner over Democrat David Weprin in the race to replace Anthony Weiner in New York’s 9th congressional district.
The poll, showing Turner winning 47 percent support to Weprin’s 41 percent in the Brooklyn district, is significant because PPP is regarded as left-leaning. On Friday, an independent Siena poll showed Turner leading 50-44.
According to PPP, President Barack Obama is dragging Weprin down–and his treatment of Israel is a deciding factor:
The issue of Israel does appear to be having a major impact on this race. A plurality of voters- 37%- said that Israel was ‘very important’ in determining their votes. Turner is winning those folks by an amazing 71-22 margin. With everyone who doesn’t say Israel is a very important issue for them Weprin actually leads 52-36. Turner is in fact winning the Jewish vote by a 56-39 margin, very unusual for a Republican candidate. This seems to be rooted in deep unhappiness with Obama on this issue- only 30% of voters overall approve of how he’s handling Israel to 54% who disapprove and with Jewish voters his approval on Israel is 22% with 68 of voters disapproving. That has a lot to do with why Turner’s in such a strong position.
On Friday, Democrat state assemblyman Dov Hikind endorsed Turner–and made it clear that Tuesday’s special election was a chance for Democrats to send a message to the Obama administration protesting his policies on the economy and Israel. Hikind also decried the negative tactics being used by fellow Democrats in their attempt to save the seat.
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Both candidates resume campaigning tomorrow after a weekend dominated by observances of the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
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