Poll gives Weprin slight edge over Turner in 9th district race

The Republican challenger in the race for former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s congressional seat is gaining serious ground in the largely Democratic district, according to a new Siena poll released Wednesday.

GOP contender Bob Turner trails Democratic rival David Weprin by just 6 points, as the Queens state assemblyman leads 48%-42% in a poll of likely voters.

The special election for the Ninth Congressional District, which straddles Brooklyn and Queens, will be held on primary day – Sept. 13.

Weprin, 55, said through a spokeswoman he wants to reform the tax code to make “millionaires and Big Oil pay their fair share.”

Turner, 70, said in a statement that Washington doesn’t need more “career politicians” and is focusing on a platform of growing jobs.

Weiner’s seat became vacant when he resigned in June after lying about sending raunchy tweets and pictures to women online.

This may be the last year that New York’s primary is held in September. Lawmakers are looking to move the election to the second or third Tuesday in June permanently in 2012.

The feds are pressuring the change as part of a federal law to accommodate those in the military who want to receive absentee ballots.