Several weeks ago extremely influential New York State lawmaker Dov Hikind, who serves with fellow Democrat David Weprin in the State Assembly, announced that he would not endorse Mr. Weprin in his race to replace disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-New York). Now with just days to go before the September 13 special election, Mr. Hikind has announced that he will endorse Mr. Weprin's opponent, Republican Bob Turner, to represent the overwhelmingly Democratic district.

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Mr. Hikind has scheduled a news conference for later today to announce that he will support Mr. Turner, a retired business executive who stands for smaller government, lower taxes and entitlement program reforms, over Mr. Weprin who favors higher government spending, higher taxes and maintaining the status quo on unsustainable entitlements.

In a phone interview late yesterday, Mr. Hikind said the voters he speaks to are unhappy about the economy and blame Democrats. "People get a sense that no one is in charge and the guy at the top doesn't really know what to do,'' he said.

According to a recent poll, President Barack Obama (that guy at the top) has an approval rating in New York's ninth congressional district of just 36% and that same poll shows Mr. Turner ahead of Mr. Weprin by 4 points (44% - 40%). Mr. Hikind's coveted endorsement could help increase that lead.