Democratic Primary in New Queens District Heating Up

Democratic Primary in New Queens District Heating Up:
New York Assemblyman David Weprin -- who last year lost a special election congressional race to GOP Rep. Bob Turner -- on Wednesday told supporters he's backing Assemblywoman Grace Meng for a new congressional seat that's up for grabs on the heels of Democratic Rep. Gary Ackerman's decision not to run for reelection.

If she wins that seat, Meng would be the first Asian-American elected to Congress from New York state. But Meng faces a three-way Democratic primary contest for newly drawn 6th District, which although crafted to encourage Asian-American candidates, also has a sizeable and politically active Jewish population.

And earlier this week, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch announced he is throwing his support behind Assemblyman Rory Lancman, saying he leaned more toward Lancman's positions on Israel.

Last year, Koch had successfully backed Turner over Weprin, a son of a former New York state Assembly Speaker, in what was a special election to fill the seat vacated when former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner.