Ha. From The New York Times:

“We’re hurting,” said Guy V. Molinari, the former Staten Island borough president and dean of the island’s Republicans. “I think that the Congressional seat is probably the most coveted seat locally. And yet, with the vacancy approaching, those that we thought would be the leading candidates in this case, particularly the incumbent elected officials, are taking a pass.”

A week ago, Mr. Fossella announced that he would not seek a sixth full term in November. He was arrested on May 1 on charges of driving while intoxicated and admitted soon after that he had fathered a daughter, who is now 3, out of wedlock.

The 13th Congressional District, which includes all of Staten Island and portions of Brooklyn, is the only Congressional district in New York City with a Republican incumbent.

If Democrats mount a competent, well-funded challenge, this seat is ripe for the taking. The baseline stats are phenomenal: the PVI (partisan voting index) of the district is D +0.8%, demographics don't expressly disfavor a Democratic takeover, and the turnout numbers for the February 5th primary speak for themselves:

Democratic turnout, NY-13: 42,923
Republican turnout, NY-13: 17,275

A Democratic-leaning district, in a Presidential election year, featuring a disgraced incumbent, with a state republican party even more in shambles than the national organization. We can do this.