Referendum on Obama, Here Comes 2012, Republican Defeats Wiener's Democratic Seat

The Republican repeatedly criticized Obama on Israel and defeated the Democrat in a district that is 40% Jewish. Democrat David Weprin supported the Victory mosque on the World Trade Center site. The heavily Democratic district, which spans parts of Queens and Brooklyn and is 40% Jewish, had never sent a Republican to the House. The race was supposed to be an easy win for Democrats, who have a 3-1 ratio registration advantage in the district. Bob Turner, a 70-year-old Catholic, vowed to push back on Obama's policies if elected. Weprin is an observant Jew and Orthodox Jews, who tend to be conservative on social issues, expressed anger over Weprin's vote in the state Assembly to legalize gay marriage. In July, New York became one of six states to recognize same-sex nuptials.