The last Republican member of Congress whose district includes any part of New York City was arrested early Thursday morning on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Virginia. Rep. Vito Fossella, whose Thirteenth District includes Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, will appear in court on May 12 for a hearing.

Fossella's district voted for Al Gore by an eight-point margin in 2000, but in 2004 it gave a ten-point win to President Bush. The seat is heavily ethnic; nearly 30% of the population is of Italian descent. After winning just a 57%-43% margin in 2006 against a Democrat he outspent more than eleven to one, Fossella now finds himself in Democrats' crosshairs.

Steve Harrison, the Democrat who ran in 2006, is making another bid, though national party leaders prefer city councilmember Domenic Recchia. Recchia raised $350,000 through the First Quarter, retaining $325,000 in the bank. Fossella surprised some with a disappointing fundraising quarter, pulling in enough to keep just $248,000 on hand. The incumbent Republican has already spent $615,000 this year, worrying some backers.

Fossella released a statement to some news outlets apologizing for the incident and admitting his error, the Staten Island Advance reported. Whether Democrats use the incident in November, it's not the kind of thing an underfunded incumbent running in what looks like a strong Democratic year needs hanging over his head.