Dockworkers, public-school teachers and Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano lead an army of special interests, with nearly $70 million in their campaign coffers, according to an analysis of PAC money.

The first-of-its-kind survey by the New York Public Interest Research Group of more than 3,300 active campaign accounts found political-action committees accounted for more than a third of the $203 million in campaign kitties as of mid-summer.

That sum eclipses the $39 million grand total of all Republican candidates, clubs and party committees in the state, the analysis revealed. It falls short, however, of the $89 million held by Democratic groups and office seekers.

“PACs have always had incredible clout,” said NYPIRG’s Blair Horner. “This shows how big that clout is.”

The International Longshoremen’s Association – with $11 million in the bank – is by far the state’s largest PAC, followed by the American Resort Development Association, which claims $8.5 million.

But both groups spend much of their money out of state.

Locally, the undisputed leader in campaign clout is the $7.2 million political fund fueled by contributions from the 600,000-member United Federation of Teachers.

The group, historically among the Democratic Party’s biggest benefactors, is leading a statewide advertising assault on Democratic Gov. Paterson’s plan to cap school property-tax hikes.

Golisano, a businessman, politician and owner of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, became the state’s fourth-biggest special interest in terms of campaign dollars with the $5 million check he wrote to start his political committee, Responsible New York, earlier this summer.

Ironically, he’s pledged to use the money to counter the influence of special-interest groups.

Golisano’s committee is followed closely by the $4 million fund run by 1199/SEIU. The labor union is one of the largest backers of the Senate Republican majority and among the biggest opponents of Paterson’s proposed $505 million Medicaid cut.

Democrats described NYPIRG’s analysis – which shows Democrats leading Republicans in campaign cash by a 2-to-1 margin – as confirming the party’s growing dominance in state politics.

Democrats now control every statewide office and may seize the state Senate this year.

“If you look at it individually, historically, the Democrats have been greatly outspent, despite the Democratic enrollment advantage in parts of the state,” state Democratic Chairwoman June O’Neill said. “Things are changing.”

Republican State Executive Director Matt Walter said the NYPIRG numbers did not reflect a closer fund-raising balance in battleground districts.

“You can add up numbers to say whatever you want. The reality is that Republicans who are running this year are better candidates . . . and will have all the resources they’re going to need to win this fall,” Walter said.

Source: NY Post