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Schumer Still Not Commenting On Old Friend Weiner, Even As Ex-Congressman Gains Ground

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- After a holiday weekend of hard campaigning, Anthony Weiner is hoping to gain the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York. But it appears he's trying to do it without the support of one important Democrat.

Weiner, who left the House of Representatives in disgrace, is now running like he needs a job.

"I've got to prove myself to the other elected officials in this community," Weiner said.

Weiner, who recently announced his bid for the city's top job, left Congress two years ago after using social media to send racy photos and messages to women. He's since said it was regrettable. But to insure election in New York, a mayoral candidate would want the support of Sen. Charles Schumer, who is an old friend of Weiner.

Schumer, on Sunday's "Face the Nation," dodged the question from Bob Schieffer.

"I'm not commenting on the mayor's race or on Anthony Weiner's race at this point, no," Schumer said.

Then he did it again Tuesday at a Yonkers event.

"I'm not commenting on the mayor's race in general or Anthony Weiner's race in particular," Schumer told CBS 2's John Slattery.

This as Weiner has closed the gap a bit on Democratic frontrunner Christine Quinn. On Tuesday, a week after he formally announced his candidacy for mayor, a new poll conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion finds the former congressman is gaining ground on the City Council speaker.

Among registered Democrats in NYC, Quinn leads the way with 24 percent, followed by Weiner with 19 percent, Bill de Blasio with 12 percent and Bill Thompson will 11 percent, among the leaders.

One Fordham University political scientist said it's not unusual for senior officials to stay out of primaries, but, "Like many New Yorkers, he may feel personally betrayed by the Congressman, and they may have wounds that have not yet healed," Costas Panagopoulos said.

Schumer may well see it all as a mess but right now he doesn't want to step into it.

That's not to say that Schumer might get on board if Weiner ends up winning the September primary.

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