The New York Post reported that Weiner is considering running for citywide office. | AP Photo Pollsters: Weiner 'has a chance'

Anthony Weiner reportedly wants to returns to politics — perhaps even as Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s successor — and some pollsters believe the disgraced former congressman has a shot.

“Sure, he’s got a chance… there are pluses and minuses, and the pluses are in the bank,” said Mickey Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, referring to Weiner’s $4.5 million campaign war chest. “Among politicians, I don’t think they have ever cared that much.”


“You’ve got to give this guy credit. He’s a demon of a campaigner. He’ll be out there ringing doorbells and stuff. So you’ve got to give him a shot,” Carroll added.

The New York Post reported Sunday that Weiner is considering running for citywide office in New York next year, perhaps for public advocate or even mayor.

A June 2011 Marist poll, conducted shortly before Weiner resigned over a Twitter sexting scandal, showed that a majority of New Yorkers didn’t want him to run for mayor: 56 percent of registered voters said he shouldn’t make a bid in 2013, compared to 25 percent who said he should.

“By more than two-to-one, Democrats said don’t,” Marist director Lee Miringoff said — but without discounting Weiner’s current prospects, noting that the polling was done when the scandal was fresh.

Miringoff said voters will want to know why they should vote for Weiner.

“The question for him is, why him and why now,” Miringoff said. “If there’s a need or a rationale, he would need to tout it to put stuff behind him.”

The decision may come down to whether Weiner can withstand revisiting his past.

“Any guy who has become a punch line, you’ll have to wonder how happy he’ll be, being kicked around by the news media — right, left and sideways,” Carroll said. “The tabloids will work him over.”

“In the New York Area, what you see is a lot of footage, old footage. You get a good reminder,” said Miringoff. “The last image is not a good one, politically, and it’s the most recent chapter in his political career.”

Twitter users and conservative bloggers are already taking digs at Weiner.

“please, please, please, please, PLEASE let Anthony Weiner run for Mayor of NYC. We need the humor,” wrote conservative blogger @ColoradoRight.

“So, Anthony Weiner wants to dip his toe, … or at least some appendage back into politics, hey?” joked blogger Dan Riehl on his blog, Riehl World View.

“He’s begun using FaceBook again, so you know he’s horny, and thus needs some kind of an erective position. I mean, elective position,” cracked blogger Ace of Spades.

But some were already willing to forgive Weiner for his past misdeeds.

“Give Anthony Weiner another chance NY!” tweeted Twitter user @ flint1963.

This article tagged under: Anthony Weiner

Politics