GOP Candidate Lhota Wants To Hear From Women "Disrespected" By Anthony Weiner

From The Jewish Daily Forward:

GOP mayoral candidate Joe Lhota says he wants women who have dated Weiner or have been “disrespected” by the disgraced Congressman-turned-wannabe mayor to come forward with their horror stories.

“I hope [women] will come to the right conclusion after enough women come out and talk about what it was like to be with him and date him and things like that,” Lhota said on “The Andrea Tantaros Show” on the Talk Radio Network, according to the New York Post.

“New York women have to decide for themselves if this is someone who has the character to be mayor,” he added.

Weiner’s spokeswoman said he wouldn’t respond to Lhota’s attack, the Post said.

“Anthony is too busy talking about the future of the middle class and those struggling to make it to respond to Mr. Lhota’s mud throwing,” campaign spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said.

Couple of things to say here:

First, it's interesting that the guy who last year challenged a 77 year old man to a fist fight at an MTA board meeting is concerned enough about Weiner's behavior that he wants to hear from women who have been "disrespected" by the former congressman.

Second, what exactly is the strategy here? 

Is the Lhota campaign launching a preemptive strike against Weiner now because theyy're worried Weiner would be the toughest candidate for him to face in the general election?

Are they worried that the conservative/middle of the road policies Weiner is pushing will take some of the juice out of Lhota's "pro-growth" campaign?

I dunno, if I were Lhota, I would lay low for now and let the Dem candidates beat up on Weiner during the summer (and via some surrogates, they're starting to do just that), wait to see who makes the runoff and then, if Weiner emerges in the general, start the "Weiner is a Sexting, Lying Sleaze" campaign in late September.

But for whatever reason, the Lhota campaign is going after Weiner now.

Anybody out there have any idea why?