Money gap in congressional race
July 17, 2008
Former Hillary Rodham Clinton aide Tracey Brooks outpaced her competition in the 21st Congressional District race in second-quarter fundraising, taking in about $75,000 more than her nearest rival, former Democratic Assemblyman Paul Tonko.
Brooks, a 38-year-old attorney from Coeymans, raised $201,863 between April and June, compared to $124,930 for Tonko.
Brooks reported the most cash on hand among all seven candidates in the race for retiring Rep. Michael McNulty’s seat — $257,285 — and has the most contributions since the year started, totaling $379,724.
Brooks’ spokesman Kyle Kotary said the candidate has focused both on online fundraising and old-fashioned door-knocking and phone calls. Brooks has raised $112,742 through ActBlue, a Democratic political action committee that helps people donate to candidates through the Internet.
In comparison, Tonko has raised $100 through that Web site.
“It’s a demonstration of her growing momentum,” Kotary said.
Tonko said he isn’t concerned about being in second place because he only had about five weeks to gather donations before the second-quarter cutoff date of June 30. Tonko announced his candidacy May 20.
“I feel very confident and very competitive at this point,” Tonko said.
Three other candidates raised amounts similar to Tonko’s. Albany County Legislator Democrat Phil Steck raised $121,626 and has $168,471 cash on hand.
Republican candidate Jim Buhrmaster raised $117,144 in the second quarter, a big gain from the first quarter in which most of the contributions came in the form of a $100,000 loan from himself. He has $135,500 on hand.
Darius Shahinfar, a Democrat and former aide to U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, raised $108,618 in the second quarter and has $147,783 on hand.
Democrat Joseph Sullivan has said he won’t spend more than $1,000 on the campaign; those who raise less than that don’t have to file reports with the Federal Election Commission. Buhrmaster’s main Republican competitor, Steven Vasquez, mailed in his reports, so the information is not available yet on the FEC’s campaign disclosure Web site, Vasquez spokesman Warren Redlich said. Redlich said he didn’t know the exact number, but that Vasquez’s fundraising is in the five-figure range.
Source: Times Union
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