Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind announced earlier this week that he was crossing party lines to endorse Republican Bob Turner in the New York special election. Hikind, an Orthodox Jew who has been outspoken against the White Houses’s Israel policy, appeared in person with Turner this morning at a campaign event, saying voters in the district have the opportunity “to send a powerful message to the White House.” That message, though, isn’t just about Israel.

“[We] are unhappy with the policies of the Obama administration with regard to jobs,” Hikind said. “After three years of being the president of the United States, what is the story? Where are we going? Is it just more of the same?”