New York mayoral candidate and sexter Anthony Weiner
admitted Thursday to having lewd online conversations with as many as three
women since leaving Congress in 2011, as a new poll showed a sharp drop in his political
support.
The married Democrat told reporters he thinks he's had the
racy online chats with a total of six to 10 women -- with no more than three of
them happening after he resigned from the House over similar conduct.
But that's three more than voters knew about a few days ago.
Weiner on Tuesday fessed up to one online relationship that he pursued after
leaving Congress. With the ex-congressman now acknowledging more, it's unclear
how heavily it will impact his campaign.
A new poll released Thursday shows the Democrat and one-time
front runner has lost his lead in the New York City race following Tuesday's
revelations.
According to the NBC 4 New York/Marist/Wall Street Journal
poll, Weiner's loss seems to be City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's gain.
New poll numbers show Quinn leading by 25 percent among Democratic primary
voters compared with Weiner's 16 percent. The same poll had Weiner leading
Quinn by 5 percentage points last month.
The poll was conducted entirely since the details from Tuesday
emerged. The Democratic primary is set for Sept. 10.
"For many Democrats, the latest revelations about
Anthony Weiner are more of the same, only more so," said Dr. Lee M.
Miringoff, director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.
"Weiner has lost his lead and his negatives are at all time high."
A Quinnipiac
University poll released Wednesday and taken almost entirely before news of his
latest indiscretions gave Weiner a 17 percent score for moral character.
Thursday's poll also showed a majority of New York Democrats
-- 55 percent -- have an unfavorable impression of Weiner while 30 percent have
a favorable opinion. That represents the highest negative rating he has
received this election season.
Almost half -- 46 percent -- said Weiner's online sexual
relationships would impact their vote and almost three in four -- 73 percent --
said support from his wife Huma Abedin would have no impact on how much they
trusted him.
Weiner told reporters Tuesday he would not quit the mayor's
race despite growing calls from supporters to do so.
Weiner has shrugged off calls to withdraw from the race from
multiple media outlets and congressional colleagues.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Weiner's conduct
"reprehensible," "stunning" and "clueless."
Pelosi also suggested he may need therapy.
Weiner did say Thursday that he's still "working with
people" to get help dealing with his penchant for X-rated online flirting.
But he disputes any suggestion that it's an addiction.
It got steamier Thursday, when the gossip site The Dirty
posted what it says is a lewd photo of Weiner that he sent to a woman last
year.
But he was quickly losing Democratic officials' support.
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