GOP poll shows tie in race to replace Weiner

A GOP poll commissioned for Republican businessman Bob Turner has him tied with New York state Assemblyman David Weprin (D) at 42 percent each with 12 days until the special election to replace former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.).

This is not the first poll to show the race close: A Siena Research Institute poll conducted in early August had Weprin leading by a narrow 6-point margin.

A Turner win would be an upset in the Democratic-leaning district, which encompasses parts of Brooklyn and Queens and has trended a bit Republican in recent years because of a shift in support from the growing Orthodox Jewish community toward the GOP.

Weprin is an Orthodox Jew, and held a fundraiser with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), a fellow Orthodox Jew, on Wednesday afternoon. Turner has the endorsement of former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, a Democrat who has endorsed people in both parties. Koch said voters should back Turner to send a message to President Obama that he needs to be a stronger supporter of Israel.

Democrats have remained confident enough about the race not to have spent any money in the expensive media market for Weprin, who holds a cash advantage over Turner at this point. The National Republican Congressional Committee has given Turner a five-figure sum in the race.

The poll of 300 voters, conducted by GOP pollster McLaughlin & Associates on Wednesday, had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7 percent.

The special election to replace Weiner, who resigned after sending suggestive pictures of himself to women via social media sites, is Sept. 13.

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