Vote today for Senate seat once held by expelled Monserrate

NEW YORK CITY -- Voters in Queens are choosing a state senator to replace Hiram Monserrate. He was expelled after a misdemeanor conviction for dragging his girlfriend through an apartment lobby.

Monserrate is trying to get back his old seat, even though he lacks backing from Democratic officials. He's running on the "Yes We Can" line.

Assemblyman Jose Peralta is listed on the Democratic line. The northern Queens district is heavily Democratic.

The Republican candidate is Robert Beltrani. Peralta was up 45 points over Monserrate in a recent Siena College poll.

However, special elections are notoriously difficult to predict because of expected low turnout. Peralta said his campaign was focused on getting people to vote Tuesday.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)