According to Bob Holden, the head of the Juniper Park Civic Association, Weprin, a Democrat running for the Brooklyn-Queens congressional seat vacated by Anthony Weiner, told the organizers that due to the storm, half of his campaign workers couldn't make it to the office today.

Holder was not pleased with this response.

"What's that got to do with making it to a debate," he said. "They have been trying to get out of it all week, trying to change the format. It's disgraceful.

Weprin and Turner have met in one previous debate, one that was marked by much heckling and shouting by partisans in the audience.

Holder suggested that Weprin didn't want to come to the debate because the Juniper Park Area is a little more conservative than most in the district.

"I'm a Democrat. I said [to Weprin] 'This is not enemy territory. Why are you treating us like this?' I think this area is a little more conservative than his liking."

The Turner campaign quickly pounced.

"Career politician David Weprin is in hiding," said spokesman William O'Reilly. "After demonstrating a stunning lack of knowledge about the size of the federal deficit -- he was off by $10 trillion the last time he was asked -- maybe he's home studying up. But still, it was rude to cancel at this late notice."

We have reached out to the Weprin campaign for a response and have yet to hear back.

From Weprin campaign spokeswoman Liz Kerr:

"The hurricane caused major logistical and scheduling problems for the campaign and thus David is not able to make the debate this evening."