Questions surrounding the ongoing saga of an inapropiate picture that appeared on New York Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Twitter feed in recent days are threatening to disrupt the Congressman’s bid for New York City mayor in 2013.

In the immediate aftermath of the picture surfacing, the New York Democrat insisted his account had been hacked.

But, he has grown more vague — and combative — in recent days, an approach that has stoked suspicion and led some New York Democrats to speculate about the damage he could be doing to his expected mayoral bid in two years time.

In an interview with NBC’s Luke Russert Wednesday, Weiner would not comment on whether the image in question was of him. “I can’t say with certitude,”he said. “My system was hacked. Pictures can be manipulated. Pictures can be dropped in and inserted.”

Weiner did add that he had not sent the picture out and described himself as the “victim of a prank”.

“This is about silliness, and I’m going to brush it off my shoulder,” Weiner added.

There is broad consensus among Democratic strategists in New York that unless the Congressman can find a way to explain the situation — and quick — he runs the risk of hurting his future political prospects.

“If he doesn’t call for an outside investigation of the ‘hacking’ this incident will dog him throughout the entire campaign,” predicted one New York Democratic consultant granted anonymity to speak candidly.

Weiner is considered one of the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination when three-term Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) will step aside in 2013.

Weiner is likely to face a crowded field if he does run for mayor in 2013. Former comptroller William Thompson, who narrowly lost to Bloomberg in 2009, New York City Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn are all mentioned as possible Democratic candidates.

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