NEW YORK — Polls have closed in a New York City special election that will determine a successor to a former Democratic congressman who resigned in a sexting scandal. \
But the stakes are higher than that, as many pollsters and pundits have characterized the race as a referendum on President Barack Obama's policies as well.
Republican businessman Bob Turner and Democratic Assemblyman David Weprin were locked in a surprisingly close contest in the heavily Democratic district spanning parts of Brooklyn and Queens on Tuesday.
The seat opened up in June, when Rep. Anthony Weiner was pushed by party leaders to resign after sending sexually provocative tweets and text messages to women he met online.
Democrats were scrambling to stave off an embarrassing loss. Republicans predicted that a win for their party would be the latest evidence of voter unhappiness with Obama's economic policies.