Elated by Bob Turner’s election to a Queens-Brooklyn House seat held by Democrats since 1923, Republicans are vowing to field congressional candidates in 2012 against Democrats once thought to be unbeatable.

GOP consultant Vince Tabone would like to see Democratic Reps. Joseph Crowley, Carolyn Maloney and Gary Ackerman challenged in 2012. Rep. Timothy Bishop in Suffolk County and Hudson Valley Rep. Maurice Hinchey may be particularly vulnerable, another Republican said.

Guy Harrison, executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee, wondered if Long Island Rep. Steve Israel would “be forced to spend $500,000 to defend his own seat.”

But insiders believe Mr. Turner’s special-election win last week will be hard to replicate. “It’s easy to say, but hard to do,” said political consultant Jerry Skurnik. “A general election is not the same.”

Turnout was barely above 60,000 in the race to replace Anthony Weiner. That allowed voters for Mr. Turner, who were especially motivated, to have more impact than they did last November, when 110,000 votes were cast. In 2012, a presidential election year, turnout could surpass 200,000, which favors Democrats.

“Specials create an opportunity for people to cut through party labels and focus on the issues,” said a Republican insider. “It helps when it’s not the top of the ticket deciding the votes.”

In the last three years, Queens Republicans Anthony Como and Eric Ulrich won special elections for City Council, while GOP state Sens. Serphin Maltese and Frank Padavan were ousted in general elections….

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