Hikind, prominent N.Y. Dem, won’t endorse Weprin to replace Weiner

David Weprin

Democratic New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind, an Orthodox Jew, announced that he will not support the Democratic candidate to replace former Rep. Anthony Weiner.

Democratic candidate David Weprin, is also a New York assemblyman and an Orthodox Jew, but the influential Hikind objects to his strong support of gay marriage.

Hikind also hinted that he would endorse Republican candidate Bob Turner in next month’s special election, the New York Post reported.
“Weprin basically used his Jewish orthodoxy to say gay marriage is OK. He used his orthodoxy to say gay marriage is kosher. That crossed the line,” Hikind told the Post.

Hikind’s wavering comes as polls show the two candidates statistically neck and neck.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.)  endorsed Weprin last month, and New York City mayor Ed Koch, a Republican, endorsed Turnerin the special congressional election that has been characterized in the media as a Jewish referendum on President Obama’s Israel policies.

Weiner resigned in June in the wake of a scandal in which he lied about sexually explicit exchanges on social media outlets.