TOUGHEST TEST: Twenty-one-term Rep. Charles Rangel makes his final campaign push heading into today’s primary. (
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Embattled Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel’s bid to hold on to his congressional seat is the marquee political fight in today’s New York primary elections — and he broke out some of his biggest weapons yesterday.
Voters in the district received recorded phone calls on Rangel’s behalf from two former mayors, Ed Koch and David Dinkins, as well as two Harlem power brokers, former state Comptroller Carl McCall and former Gov. David Paterson.
Rangel, 82, is seeking re-election to a 22nd term after being censured by the House of Representatives for ethics violations in December 2010. He faces a stiff challenge from state Sen. Adriano Espaillat and Harlemite Clyde Williams.
Rangel also confronts a changing demographic landscape. Hispanics now constitute a majority of the reconfigured 13th Congressional District, spanning portions of The Bronx as well as northern Manhattan.
Espaillat, 57, stumped on his home turf in Washington Heights yesterday, visiting senior centers and glad-handing voters outside the subway station at Broadway and 169th.
“This community is very excited. The base is pumped up. I haven’t seen anything like this,” Espaillat said.
A top Democratic Party insider predicts a Rangel victory, thanks in part to a massive get-out-the-vote operation involving labor unions that back him.
An internal Rangel campaign survey also showed the congressman with an eight-point lead over Espaillat, a source said. The congressman had a huge double-digit lead in his Harlem base but trailed Espaillat in northern Manhattan and The Bronx.
Rangel started his day at a youth summer-jobs event in Harlem and visited two senior centers in The Bronx.
Asked about his prospects of winning re-election, Rangel said, “I feel good.”