A new poll by McLaughlin and Associates shows Republican Bob Turner tied in the special election for New York’s Ninth congressional district. A previous poll had shown him six points behind in a heavily Democratic district. He and Democratic opponent David Weprin now enjoy 42 percent of likely voters each, with 16 percent undecided two weeks before they go to the polls.
Turner looks particularly strong in the Brooklyn portion of the district, in which he received 48 percent of the vote against Anthony Weiner in 2010, despite Weiner being from Brooklyn. Pollster John McLaughlin says “With adequate resources, Bob Turner’s campaign will … defeat David Weprin on September 13th. This is a very similar dynamic to Scott Brown’s Senate victory in Massachusetts.”
Last night, Turner and Weprin faced off in a debate in Brooklyn, with supporters of both candidates again contentious. They continued to clash on foreign policy and entitlement issues. Weprin was particularly persistent in trying to link Turner to the Tea Party movement, cuts for seniors who are on Social Security and Medicare, and support for Paul Ryan’s budget plan, all of which he has repeatedly denied.
Turner’s efforts have also recently been bolstered by today’s endorsement by the New York Daily News.