Boehner lowers expectations for New York special election

The winner of the special election in New York's ninth congressional district will be announced Tuesday night, filling the seat once held by Anthony Weiner, the disgraced Democrat. But despite recent polling that suggests the Democrats could lose a district that is considered one of their strongholds, Republican leaders are keeping expectations low--just in case.

On Tuesday morning, Speaker of the House John Boehner downplayed the possibility of a victory for his party.

"When the results come in tonight we can be happy or we can be sad," Boehner told reporters. "We've got a great candidate in New York. But this is a very serious Democrat district, once represented by Anthony Weiner, also represented by Chuck Schumer, and also represented by Geraldine Ferraro. This is not a district that Republicans have any right to believe that we can win."

"Hope springs eternal," he added.