State Senator Adriano Espaillat wasn’t the only loser in Rep. Charlie Rangel’s victory on Tuesday.
Espaillat’s campaign spokesperson Lis Smith was also damaged by his poor showing, compared to two years ago when he was within 1,000 votes of unseating Rangel.
“They brought her in as the closer, but she snatched defeat from the jaws of victory,” one political consultant told me.
Smith was Bill de Blasio’s campaign spokesperson before it was revealed that she was having an affair with still-married former Governor Eliot Spitzer.
“De Blasio must be happy now he didn’t bring her to City Hall,” said my source.
But another political operative said, “You can’t blame the loss on her. It’s always the candidate. Espaillat didn’t have a message that resonated beyond his Dominican community.”
Puerto Rican leaders in the northern Manhattan/South Bronx district endorsed Espaillat, but Puerto Rican voters ignored them and voted for Rangel.
“Rangel is an overwhelming character,” said the politico. “He’s charismatic. People love him.”