Metro

Poll axed! Disaster drives voters from districts

Hurricane Sandy has devastated the region — and it could hurt a political hopeful or two as well.

In southeastern Queens, where Democratic state Sen. Joe Addabbo and Republican Councilman Eric Ulrich are slugging it out for Addabbo’s seat in the state’s 15th Senate District, blocks upon blocks of homes have been wiped out.

Breezy Point, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, is solidly Republican and an area Ulrich needs to turn out voters — but that’s going to be a tall order.

“These people have lost everything they have,” said a Republican operative in Queens. “Do they really want to vote? And how do you get [polling place] notification to these people? They’re not staying in Breezy Point. They’re staying with relatives.”

Addabbo is facing challenges of his own. One of his two offices was flooded out.

“My main priority and that of my campaign staff is to focus on assisting my district,” Addabbo said.

A recent poll from Siena College shows the race is the tightest in the city, with incumbent Addabbo ahead by 45-43 percent.

On Staten Island, the race between incumbent GOP Rep. Michael Grimm and Dem challenger Mark Murphy has been thrown for a storm-tossed loop.