Halloran Strategist Slams Storobin’s Assault Rifle Photo-Op [UPDATED]

Asher Taub, an unpaid adviser to Queens Republican Councilman Dan Halloran’s congressional campaign, who just got back from a trip to Israel with the candidate, is not pleased with the actions of a fellow trip-mate — Brooklyn State Sen. David Storobin.

Yesterday morning, the campaign of Storobin, a fellow Republican who coordinated some of his trip to Israel with Halloran, sent out a widely picked-up photo of Storobin standing with an assault rifle on the Syrian border, bearing Israeli army fatigues. Meanwhile, Storobin’s chief of staff, Paul Gullo, appeared to be ready to unload a few rounds.

And according to Taub, the resulting derision — which on Twitter has drawn comparisons to Michael Dukakis’ decision in 1988 to sit in a tank during his presidential run — has made the Halloran camp displeased with Storobin.

“We don’t really want to have anything to do with them,” Taub said by phone. “Not after that stupid thing with the Syrian front over there.”

That may be somewhat difficult to achieve, though, since the campaign spokesman for both Halloran and Storobin is the same person, Steven Stites.

Stites declined to comment.

Update:

After this article was published, Taub walked back his statement about Storobin’s photo-op, and now says he personally thinks it was “cute”– and that he simply was trying to make clear that the Halloran and Storobin trips to Israel were largely conducted separately.

Taub also downplayed his role in Halloran’s campaign, saying his role was “nothing” — though in Israeli television reports, he was referred to as a top Halloran adviser.

The joint trip was announced with much fanfare, and included a trip to the Knesset. Storobin is expected to face ex-Democratic Councilman Simcha Felder in November, while Halloran is taking on Assemblywoman Grace Meng in Queens.