Boehner downplays GOP chances for winning Weiner’s former seat

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) predicted a close outcome in Tuesday’s special election for former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-N.Y.) seat.

Democrats have held the seat since its inception, but two polls in the past week have shown Republican candidate Bob Turner has a good chance of winning the district.

But Boehner downplayed any chances of a GOP pickup.

“When the results come in tonight, we could be happy or we could be sad,” he said. “This is a very serious Democrat district once represented by Anthony Weiner, also represented by Chuck Schumer and also represented
by Geraldine Ferraro. This is not a district that Republicans have any right to believe we could win. But we do have a good candidate, I think it will be a close race and hope springs eternal.”

Democrats were expected to keep the seat but their candidate, David Weprin, has suffered from President Obama’s poor approval ratings and Middle East policies, which have not played well with the district’s Orthodox Jewish voters.

Polls close at 9 p.m. EDT.