Weiner's Successor Gets Raw Deal

There is a good chance that whoever takes over for Anthony Weiner will end up a lame duck. Weiner's congressional district, which covers Brooklyn and Queens, may disappear as a result of the 2010 census. New York is set to lose two House seats, and it was widely assumed that Weiner’s district could be absorbed into adjoining districts to help shore up Democratic incumbents. The winner of the upcoming special election will serve out the rest of Weiner's term until 2012, and would then be expected to step aside. One Democratic consultant said, "There is very little precedent that I can think of that someone is agreeing to be both a placeholder and not seek that office if they get redistricted out."