Anthony Weiner's campaign manager calls it quits
In another blow to Anthony Weiner's beleaguered campaign to become mayor of New York City, his campaign manager quit on Saturday, CBS News Radio has confirmed.
Danny Kedem, a 30-year-old who oversaw Weiner's candidacy as the disgraced former congressman moved from long shot to real contender, told Weiner that he could no longer manage his campaign after new revelations about Weiner's salacious online contact with women over the last week. The New York Times was the first to report the story.
Weiner has insisted that his bid is moving forward, come what may, but Kedem's resignation marks the latest evidence that there are doubts about Weiner's viability even within the campaign operation itself.
And even as Weiner plows ahead, trying to put the sexting scandal aside and concentrate on campaign themes like healthcare and middle-class security, he continues to be dragged back into the controversy created by his errant online behavior.
- Weiner admits to inappropriate texting with 3 women after resigning from Congress
- This time, Anthony Weiner's wife steps out to defend him
At a campaign event in Staten Island on Friday meant to highlight the continued plight of people affected by Hurricane Sandy, retired schoolteacher Peg Brunda demanded to know why Weiner felt he had the "moral authority" to oversee city employees when his own conduct leaves so much to be desired, WCBS reports.
See video of the exchange above.
Weiner asked, "You're not voting for me?"
She replied, "No, I'm not voting for you, sir."
Weiner retorted, "I want to let other people make the decision for themselves."
He surprised some by saying he would have no problem hiring a schools chancellor or a police commissioner with behavioral problems similar to his own. "People have their personal lives," he said. "If it is unconnected to their professional duties, of course, I'm not going to judge someone's personal life."
Weiner, formerly a congressman from New York City, resigned in 2011 after it was revealed that he tweeted lewd pictures to women. After a brief period out of the public eye, Weiner launched a bid for New York City mayor in May, quickly becoming a serious contender for the Democratic nomination, according to polls conducted shortly after he jumped into the race.
On Tuesday, however, Weiner's candidacy was plunged into turmoil after it was revealed that he continued his sexually inappropriate online contact with women after his resignation. In subsequent media appearances, Weiner admitted inappropriate contact with six to ten women - up to three of them after he resigned - but insisted the behavior was a thing of the past.