Former New York Mayor Ed Koch goes from Obama basher to Obama booster

After an ugly campaign, Turner beat Democrat David Weprin - and now Koch, in his weekly column, says he's solidly aboard the "Obama Reelection Express."

"I believe the recent vote in the 9th Congressional District in New York affected in a positive way the policy of the U.S. on the Mideast," he wrote.

Koch campaigned with Turner and backed him in his battle with Weprin, an Orthodox Jew with relatives in Israel. Both said they were angry with Obama's having mentioned a possible return to Israel's 1967 borders.

Koch says he's pleased with Obama's stance on the Palestinians' bid for United Nations membership, urging more talks with Israel before any action is taken. The U.S. vowed to use its Security Council vote to block the Palestinians if necessary.

"What I said earlier was that I thought that President Obama had engaged in hostile actions toward the state of Israel, and I wanted to send him a message not to take the Jewish voters for granted," he told the Daily News.

"The message was delivered and I noticed that President Obama's speech at the UN and support of Israel were superb.