WASHINGTON — Veteran Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel suffered another high-profile defection as former city Comptroller Bill Thompson threw his support Wednesday to Rangel’s Democratic rival, Adriano Espaillat.
It’s the latest in a series of high-impact political players who have backed upstart Espaillat, the state senator who came within 1,000 votes of toppling the longtime lawmaker in 2012.
Thompson’s switch is particularly stinging for Rangel, as Thompson previously served as the highest-ranking local black elected official.
Both Rangel and Espaillat endorsed Thompson in his failed run for mayor last year. Rangel is seeking re-election to a 23rd term in the House.
Meanwhile a New York Times/NY1/Siena College poll of likely voters in the 13th Congressional District finds Rangel to be leading Espaillat 41-32 percent.
But the lead is considered soft, because 4 in 10 voters in the survey said the primary factor in their decision will be voting for “change.”