I guess the lesson to Dem is don't go against Israel and don't bother with gay

marriage. Some republican dude won.

It sounded improbable on the surface that a New York City congressional district where Democrats have a 3-1 registration edge and have held office for nearly a century could even come close to electing a Republican to the U.S. House. Weprin also became embroiled in New York-centric disputes over Israel and gay marriage, which cost him some support among Jewish voters.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gIknHy30C9jvxaaSbbLxDEBnQVMQ?docId=bcfdb40c6a624fb9a646b677de67d7d2

Be careful of simplistic analysis.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_09/putting_special_elections_in_c032183.php