This isn't a coloring contest, we're talking about taking back the thirteenth Congressional district down in Staten Island for the Democrats. So far, so good for our side because both candidates have cash on hand and that is important because the incumbent in this race, Vito Fossella can't raise enough money for what he spends.
From The NY Daily News:
Rep. Vito Fossella's campaign committee announced the Staten Island Republican has raised more than $700,000 to date in this election cycle ($700,967, to be exact) and has just over $250,000 on hand.
In the last quarter, Fossella raised $304,453 and spent $462,866 (the press release didn't mention that last number, nor did it tout his $28,020 worth of debt).[...]
Steve Harrison has already formally announced his plans to take a second shot at trying to oust Fossella. Harrison has the support of Frank Barbaro, a retired assemblyman and onetime mayoral candidate who ran unsuccessfully against Fossella in 2004, but he's something of an underdog where the Democratic establishment is concerned.
Many of the powers-that-be would like to see Councilman Domenic Recchia run against Fossella. Recchia hasn't yet anounced, but he is raising money for a potential congressional campaign.
By the end of December, Recchia had raised $220,770, spent $14,318 and has 206,451 on hand.
By the end of September (he's most recent numbers aren't yet up), raised $37,618, spent $6,498 and has $37,367 on hand, plus $1,595 worth of debt.
UPDATE: From Harrison's end-of-year filing: Raised $69,203 in this quarter and $106,456 overall, spent $23,354, owes $2,351 and has $83,116 on hand.
Considering that the Democrats are in Fossella's financial ballpark speaks volumes. Incumbency is king in New York but having campaign money gets its royal share as well. Voters across the country are sick of the GOP and are getting ready to purge themselves of many different elephants. I know that with the power of the grassroots here in NYC, one of those can be Vito Fossella.
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