The unrelenting message of Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams that the Biden administration must do something to help stem the flow of migrants into the nation's biggest city is helping to give suburban New York Republicans a potent issue in competitive congressional races this upcoming election, Politico reported on Monday.
The influential conservative tabloid New York Post is helping keep the issue as a top priority by featuring dozens of covers on the subject.
The two-pronged fixation on the topic has apparently influenced the public, as a December Quinnipiac poll found 85% of New York City voters were either "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" the city would "not be able to accommodate the surge of migrants."
That's a significant boost in that opinion, as a Quinnipiac survey 10 months earlier recorded 63% who said they do not think the city "has the ability to accommodate the migrants seeking sanctuary."
"If you listen to the mayor and you read the New York Post, you believe that everywhere you look in the city, there are migrants and asylum seekers on the street and you're stepping over them," Democratic political consultant Alyssa Cass said.
Republicans are taking advantage of the situation by attacking the Biden administration's migrant policies as a threat to the way of life of New Yorkers, even in districts that are not directly affected by the issue.
"It's one of the top-polling issues," vulnerable Republican Rep. Anthony D'Esposito said. "The migrant issue equates to crime."
D'Esposito was among the Republicans who won congressional races two years ago, in large part by his party's contention that Democrats would not do as good a job in keeping the suburbs safe, according to Politico.
That message this election campaign, against strong Democratic challengers, is ironically being reinforced by Adams, who has repeatedly warned that the migrant crisis will destroy New York City if he does not receive enough resources from the federal government.
The mayor's fiery rhetoric has served as useful ammunition for Republicans in their electoral campaigns.
Recently, the Republican National Committee posted a clip of the mayor's comments about the White House, writing on X, "Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams on the flood of illegal immigration: 'Help is not on the way.' "