RNC Bolsters Turner Effort for Weiner Seat

Republican nominee Bob Turner is putting up an unexpectedly stiff fight in the Sept. 13 special election to fill disgraced former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner’s seat. And that has spurred the Republican National Committee (RNC) to devote some funds to Turner’s efforts to turn out supportive voters, Politico reports.

The RNC will pay an undisclosed amount for Turner’s Phone From Home program and work in cooperation with the state Republican Party during the run-up to the election.

Turner, a businessman, trailed Democrat David Weprin by just six percentage points in a recent Siena College poll, even though there are three times more registered Democrats than Republicans in the district.

Turner is capitalizing on the unpopularity of President Barack Obama, whose unfavorable rating registers a hefty 45 percent in the district, according to the Siena poll.