Update: Dems Waste No Time Hammering Halloran

Update, 3:02 p.m.: Halloran spokesman Steven Stites responded to the  criticism from Democratic quarters Tuesday afternoon.

"It didn't take long for the Democrats in this race to show their true colors with silliness and misinformation," Stites said. "They know that if they run on the issues and their party's failed policies, they will lose."

Ready or not, City Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, is already taking a beating from three sides after his .

Halloran announced yesterday evening his intention to run in the newly created Sixth Congressional District, which includes Bayside, Bayside Hills, Flushing, Forest Hills and portions of Central Queens.

A statement from Halloran’s council offices said he was entering the race to “create job, reinforce support for Israel, America’s strongest ally, and create energy alternatives to reduce the price of gasoline on hardworking families."  

To Bayside Hills residents and political junkies, the gas prices note should sound familiar. U.S. Rep. Bob Turner, R-Forest Hills, has been using it to pound away at President Barack Obama and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., in the early days of his Senate campaign.

All of Halloran’s potential opponents immediately jumped all over him, welcoming him to the race and raking him over the coals from any number of angles.

“I look forward to a healthy discussion of the issues facing our Queens neighbors and am eager to hear how Councilman Halloran plans on justifying his party’s embrace of the Ryan-Boehner budget which would gut vital social programs for seniors, the disabled and working families,” said Assemblywoman Grace Meng, D-Flushing, the current de facto Democrat in the race. “The deficit needs to be reduced and the budget balanced, but not on the backs of middle-income families and not at the expense of Social Security and Medicare.”

Assemblyman Rory Lancman, D-Fresh Meadows, another Democrat hoping to take on Halloran, compared him to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, and hoped to capture some of that Occupy Wall Street magic.

“We’re not going back to the failed Bush/Cheney policies which helped crash our economy, strain our military, threaten social security and put a woman’s health at the mercy of others,” Lancman said.

City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, D-Middle Village, also got in on the act.

“The last thing New York needs is another vote for the House Republican majority and their agenda of cutting taxes for millionaires, dismantling Medicare and Social Security and attacking women’s rights,” said Crowley spokesman Eric Yun.

Halloran will have to fend off barbs from three sides until June 26, when the New York State primary winnows his possible opponents down to just one.