Democratic mayoral hopefuls Bill de Blasio, right; John Liu, second from right; Bill Thompson, second from left; and Anthony Weiner participate in a candidate forum in New York on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013.NEW YORK – Former congressman Anthony Weiner fell to fourth among Democratic candidates in the city’s latest mayoral race poll on Tuesday but was the center of attention in a heated debate.
Weiner used his opening remarks in the televised debate, held less than a month before a wide-open primary vote, to again apologize for his sexting scandal, which, when it re-emerged last month, knocked him from his perch atop the Democratic pack.
“I have made mistakes,” he said. “They have embarrassed myself and hurt my family.”
But Weiner’s contrite stance ended soon thereafter, as he turned combative while trading barbs with his rivals, including the race’s new front-runner, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio; the party’s 2009 nominee, ex-comptroller Bill Thompson; and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
The night’s most searing exchange came when Weiner criticized Quinn’s assistance in overturning city term limits in 2009 to give independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg another four years in office.