Sources: Felder doesn't reside in the district and can't run

Law language may leave opening

WNYC's Bob Hennelly wrote a piece today about possible contenders for Kruger's seat. Fidler and Felder refused to comment about their plans, being too close to Kruger's sobbing in a Federal Court while pleading guilty.

Fidler did commit to announce his plans "in the very near future. Stay tuned." Orthodox Pundit can confirm that it will be that he throws his hat to the ring.

Felder, according to observers, is prevented from running, since he lives out of the district. The law requires candidates to establish residency at least 12 months prior to the elections. Next year's elections would have been an exception, since in a redistricting year is enough to have been a resident in the same county for 12 months.

Still, the language of the law is cited "redistricting year." This can provide an opening for innovative elections lawyers to argue that this also applies to special elections within a redistricting year, thus enabling for Felder or other out-of-district candidates to jump into the race.

The Kruger resignation, and with Fidler emerging as a strong favorite, throws into question republican plans to capture this district, or redraw it to a super-Jewish district. An incumbent Jewish Fidler will be much harder to defeat, even in a district that is conservative and voted for Senator John McCain over President Barack Obama in 2008 by 5 percentage points.