‘The Democratic brand is in trouble here’
Former three-term Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi acknowledged this week that he’s avoiding being seen anywhere near President Biden while running to replace George Santos in Congress.
The 81-year-old president, mired in persistently low approval ratings, made a stop in New York on Wednesday — that didn’t include any appearances with Suozzi, who is locked in a tight race with Republican candidate Mazi Pilip, a Nassau County legislator, in the special election for the Third Congressional District.
“I can pretty much guarantee the president is not going to be coming to campaign,” said Suozzi during an interview with CNN on Monday. “I don’t think it would be helpful, just as I don’t think Donald Trump would be helpful to my opponent.”
“It’s a very tough seat,” added Suozzi, who represented the district, which covers Nassau County and parts of northern Queens, from 2017 to 2023.
“Democrats have been losing everything on Long Island and northeast Queens for the past three years,” he said. “The Democratic brand is in trouble here, and we have to do a lot to overcome that.”
Suozzi also admitted to The Post last week that “the progressive left wing of the Democratic Party is hurting Democrats throughout the country.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee – House Republicans’ campaign arm – argued that Suozzi’s voting record demonstrates that he and Biden are tied at the hip despite his attempt to distance himself from the president.
“Tom Suozzi can try his best to hide his friendship with Joe Biden, but the truth is he voted with him 100% of the time while in Congress,” NRCC spokeswoman Savannah Viar said in a statement.
“Joe Biden and Tom Suozzi are two sides of the same, rusty unwanted coin,” she added.
Biden, who is trailing former President Donald Trump in most national and swing-state 2024 general election polls, went on a three-stop fundraising tour of New York City Wednesday.
Read more of The Post’s coverage on the special election to replace George Santos:
Suozzi has the backing of 45% of registered voters in the Nassau County and eastern Queens-based Third District, while Pilip has 42% support, according to a recent Emerson College/PIX11 survey.
The special election will be held on Feb. 13, and early voting begins Feb. 3.
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