By Bryan Schwartzman
Clinton got 349,999 votes, or 69 percent of the vote in Queens, according to unofficial results. Lazio received 149,905 votes, or 30 percent of the votes cast in Queens.
Unofficial results also showed that statewide Clinton attracted 89 percent of the black vote and 87 percent of the Hispanic vote. Results also revealed that 60 percent of women and 60 percent of union members voted for Clinton.
“There was a large mobilization effort to get blacks and Latinos out to vote,” said Councilwoman Juanita Watkins (D-Laurelton.)
Since formally declaring her candidacy in February, Clinton made frequent campaign stops in Queens and numerous appearances in the largely black neighborhoods of southeast Queens. On the Sunday before Election Day, Clinton visited two Jamaica churches, including the Allen AME Church.
On the other hand, Lazio visited Queens only a handful of times after entering the race in May.
Watkins said that two years ago the effort to court black and Hispanic voters helped get Democrat Elliot Spitzer elected as state attorney general by a narrow margin, and those votes helped propel Democrat Charles Schumer into the other U.S. senate seat from New York.
But she said the mobilization effort “was bigger and better this time around.”
Watkins also said Clinton's tireless campaigning across the state helped win voters over.
“A lot of people underestimated the personal attraction when one gets to meet her in person,” Watkins said.
Queens Democrats were pleased by Clinton's victory, but now they hope she will focus on furthering the party's platform in the Senate.
“I'm very happy now that we have two voices in Washington to espouse our cause,” said state Sen. George Onorato (D-Long Island City).
U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-St. Albans) said Clinton needs to work toward relieving school overcrowding in Queens, finding money to hire more teachers, and creating a Long Island Rail Road link between downtown Jamaica and Grand Central Station.
“Housing cuts across every kind of problem, namely the lack thereof,” said City Councilwoman Julia Harrison (D-Flushing.) “I think housing should be high on her agenda and then, of course, affordable health care and education.”
But state Assemblywoman Marge Markey (D-Elmhurst) said she wished the Democrats had been able to take back the House or the Senate, where the Republicans held onto a slim majority.
“I'm disappointed that we didn't take at least one of the houses,” said Markey. “It gives you a greater bargaining chip when you have that situation.”
Republicans were gritting their teeth at Clinton's victory but hopeful she would pursue a centrist agenda palatable to the GOP.
“Hillary should have the same priorities as Lazio,” said state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale.) “I am disappointed he lost, but I will accept Hillary.”
Maltese is the Queens County Republican party leader and represents one of the few pockets in the borough which is solidly Republican.
“She needs to move away from the welfare state,” said Maltese. “There is no reason not to help the homeless and the poor, but Queens is primarily a working and middle-class community and she needs to focus on their needs.”
The Times-Ledger staff contributed to this story.
