Weiner calls 69-year-old rival in NYC mayor's race 'grandpa'

NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner called a 69-year-old rival "grandpa" at a forum sponsored by a retirees group.

George McDonald, a Republican, and Weiner, who is running for the Democratic nomination, tangled Tuesday at the American Association for Retired Persons or AARP event in Queens, the New York Post reported.

McDonald called Weiner, 48, "a self-pleasuring freak" at an event last week and said he has been unable to explain to his 10-year-old granddaughter why Weiner is a "celebrity." Weiner resigned from Congress, where he had represented a Queens district for a decade, after he admitted transmitting sexually explicit pictures of himself to women.

Last month, Weiner, who is married and a recent father, refused to drop out of the mayor's race amid revelations he sent more explicit material after he quit Congress. His poll numbers have dropped sharply.

At Tuesday's event, Weiner apparently greeted McDonald by placing two hands on his chest, and McDonald responded sharply: "Don't put your hands on me ever again."

Weiner then told McDonald he has "anger issues" to which McDonald responded he does not.

"Yes, you do, grandpa," Weiner answered or seems to on video shot by the news channel NY1.

In an interview Wednesday on WWRL-AM, Weiner complained that McDonald constantly brings up his granddaughter -- but did not mention the context.