Money Piles Up Early in New York House Race

[Ron Burgundy]

CQPolitics.com - With the election in 11 months and the primary still nine months away, New York's 20th district is already one of the most expensive Congressional races in the country.

A fresh influx of personal wealth ? $300,000 ? is sure to boost the candidacy of New York Republican Sandy Treadwell in his quest to unseat first-term Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand for the seat. Gillibrand has a robust bank account for her re-election campaign.

Treadwell leads the funding battle among the GOP candidates and reported on New Year's Day that he has lent enough money to his own campaign to trigger the "Millionaires' Amendment." The rule is part of the campaign finance reform of 2002 and sets a $350,000 threshold for House candidates who self-fund their campaigns after which their opponents are eligible for increased contribution limits.

In his filing, Treadwell reported he donated an additional $300,000 to his campaign, bringing the total amount of his own cash he has used this cycle to $620,000.

Meanwhile, by Sept. 30, Gillibrand had already raised $2 million with $1.6 million in cash on hand, making her the second highest-ranking fundraiser among all House incumbents. Democratic party leaders are encouraging donations: New Yorkers have given Gillibrand $1.1 million and nearly $500,000 has come from candidate committees and politician PACs. House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi is a key ally and California was the second-most-contributing state with $95,000.

But Treadwell still has to clear a crowded primary. The Republican race appears to balance between three candidates: Treadwell, a former state party chairman; Rich Wager, whose father was publisher of the Poughkeepsie Journal; and retired Army officer Michael Rocque. Both Treadwell and Wager have ties to major New York political figures. Treadwell served as secretary of state during Republican Gov. Michael Pataki's administration while Wager has served as an aide to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

By Sept. 30, Treadwell raised $822,000 and had $637,000 on hand, Wager raised $249,000 and had $161,000 on hand; and Rocque raised $121,000 and had $57,000 on hand. Candidates are due to file their fourth-quarter and year-end fundraising results Jan. 31.

Endorsements for the GOP nomination are already starting and appear spread out over these three Republicans. The district, just north of Albany, is comprised of all or part of 10 counties and the endorsements are scattered throughout all of them. Endorsements from the powerful statewide Conservative Party are still months away. "It's still very early, we've got to see which candidates stay the course," said party Chairman Michael R. Long, adding that he expected to get feedback from county party leaders at a conference in late January. "Maybe all three are going to be survivors."

The county Republican parties are starting the process of interviewing the candidates to make their endorsements, which are expected to come in the next three months. That would be earlier than historically, but the state party is hoping to avoid a divisive primary on Sept. 9 and is looking to unite early behind a candidate, said state party spokesman Matthew Walter.

Walter said the party was pleased with the field. "We're very excited about the quality of candidates that we have," he said.

Republicans argue that Gillibrand is too liberal and out of step with the district's voters. "We will be presented with a significant opportunity to compete and win there in '08," National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain said of the 20th District.

Gillibrand spokeswoman Rachel McEneny pushed back against allegation the congresswoman was out of touch with district voters, noting that Gillibrand has undertaken an aggressive outreach schedule that has included a town hall meeting in each of the 10 counties since she has taken office,.

Democrats also argue that Treadwell's self-funding indicates a weak campaign. "Sandy Treadwell began his campaign for Congress saying he was going to raise the money, but when it became clear he had neither the financial nor political support, he reached into his own wallet and cut his campaign a check," said Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Edna Ishayik, executive director of the New York Democratic Party, said the party recognized the 20th district was a front-line battle for the 2008 elections, but that the party started the race with "a clear registration and performance advantage."

Retired stockbroker Morris Guller has filed to challenge Gillibrand for the Democratic nomination, but is not expected to be a serious threat in the Democratic primary.

CQ Politics rates the race as Leans Democrat.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20080108/pl_cq_politics/politics2652675 [link]