Turner, Weiner Both Claim Advantage In 9th Dist.

Both the and campaigns felt confident going into evening voting in the 9th United States Congressional District Tuesday afternoon.

at all hours, from the Rockaways to Forest Hills.

Bob Turner's campaign, headquartered in Glendale, said they were getting good feedback everywhere they went.           

Eddie Carroll, speaking on behalf of the Turner campaign, said that the afternoon's heavy turnout would end up being a big advantage for the conservative candidate.

"The turnout was very heavy today. I think people are looking for change," Carroll said. "Just when we were out campaigning we noticed a lot of anger."

He also pointed to the motivation of conservative voters, saying that Republicans he polled were much more excited about the upcoming election than those leaning the other direction.

"I think the campaign here has just energized the base," he said.

In the other camp, Weiner did most of his own talking, saying that he relished the opportunity to take on a conservative candidate for the first time since 2004.

"I think that people are coming to the polls, voting on this question of whether or not the steps we've taken so far in a very difficult environment were ultimately constructive or whether or not we go back to them," Weiner said. "Lyndon Johnson once said that it takes a great man to build a barn, but any jackass can kick one down. This is a campaign between two ideas, one is that we've got to try to lean into problems and solve them and another that says government should get out of the way and not do any of those things."

Both sides said they were pleased by the turnout and by the revelation that — so far — no major problems had ensnared the bulk of the electorate in their district.

Voters in the area had several areas of concern, including the status of the War in Afghanistan, the senior entitlements and the federal budget deficit.

"I voted Democrat," said Tahira Khan, "Economics come and go, but those luxuries you can cut down on." Khan said the most important issue for her was a safe and quick end to the war.

Several senior citizens in the area admitted they feared a loss or privatization of social security and Medicare.