Three of Anthony Weiner’s mayoral rivals are calling on the disgraced former congressman to quit the race after new allegations of online sexual trysts with another woman surfaced yesterday.
“The sideshows of this election have gotten in the way of the debate we should be having about the future of this city. And yes, I’m talking about Anthony Weiner. Enough is enough,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
“I’m calling on Anthony to withdraw from this race — for the good of the city that I know he loves as much as all of us.”
GOP billionaire John Catsimatidis said it was time to end the “soap opera.”
“The mayor of New York City should be a leader that all the residents of our city, especially our children, can look up to. Anthony Weiner should do what is right for his family and our city and drop out of the race for mayor so we can end this soap opera,” he said.
Democrat Sal Albanese also called for Weiner to take a hike.
But others were taking a wait-and-see approach.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was noticeably silent and even former Republican Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota, who has called Weiner “undisciplined,” were mum.
So was former city Comptroller Bill Thompson.
Current Comptroller John Liu said he was shocked to learn of the latest sexting tryst.
“Are you suggesting they are newly taken? Wow,” Liu said. “It’s hard to imagine the guy could have even more exposure!”
But Liu wouldn’t call for Weiner to exit the race.
Weiner has been surging in the polls and said yesterday he has no intention of dropping out as his wife, Huma, stood at his side and backed his candidacy.
Longtime political consultant Jerry Skurnik said it’s too early to tell if Weiner is finished politically.
“I’ve always been skeptical that he could get a majority of Democrats and win, but thought he could make the runoff. But stranger things have happened — like everything that has happened to him is stranger than anything that has happened before,” said Skurnik.