Maltese Starts Early
State Senator Serph Maltese of Queens, who squeaked through past his 2006 re-election opponent by 783 votes, has spent thousands of dollars running ads in local papers in his district, according to his latest financial disclosure.
Maltese spent $2,073.25 at the Queens Ledger on January 18, $1,710 at the Queens Chronicle on January 29, another $1,454.25 at the Queens Ledger on February 12, and $3,170 at the Queens Courier on March 2, among others.
Overall, Maltese raised $105,392.41, spent $78,826.32 and has $62,008.96 left on hand.
The man who almost beat him, Albert Baldeo, raised only $19,400, but has $222,868.64 on hand. (Baldeo, it's worth noting, loaned himself $200,000.)
Obama Vs. McCain Polling Data
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.6
- 44.0
- Obama +2.6
Favorable Ratings
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 56.4
- 35.2
- +21.2
- McCain
- 54.4
- 37.0
- +17.4
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Baldeo is certainly my choice. He is putting his money where his loyalty is. Kudos for this loyal, reform democrat. With 49%of the votes as a his proven track record, changing demographics, his voter registration & reform movement,(whereby I changed my registration to Democrat) over $220,000 in his war chest-Baldeo's the man. Being a Queens County hand picked candidate does not bode well with Democrats, especially when County did not run a candidate against Maltese since 1988! They see Baldeo as a hero, and a breath of fresh air.
I also note that, were it not for the Independent and Conservative lines, Baldeo would have won by a landslide-Baldeo got 17,000+ Democratic votes to Maltese’s 14,000+ Republican votes. I say again, you cannot sweep Baldeo under the rug. Maltese sent out the bogus gun charges to ALL voters in the district-and Baldeo still got 49%. The point here is that the Republicans hit Baldeo with all they had, outspent him 3 to 1, and he still almost won the seat!
Gov. Spitzer and Malcolm Smith must override Queens County's cronyism and support Baldeo, if we are going to be truly inclusive of all. It is the smart and right thing to do. Ask State senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins. She beat Rep. Nick Spano the second time after a similarly close race!
Doubtful that in 2006 the "Republicans hit Baldeo with all they had." If 200 thousand is loans from himself, Baldeo must be having problems fund raising. As a self-professed recent convert to the Democratic Party, Democratic voter should learn the procedures her chosen party utilizes to select its candidates. Since Baldeo and his supporters regularly bash the Queens Dems I would suppose their endorsement is meaningless to him in any case. If they're so bad, why would he want their support? If he wins a primary, he'll get another shot at Maltese. If he loses a primary, another candidate will have a shot at Maltese.
There may be those who think Baldeo is a "hero, and a breath of fresh air." There are also many who think he is neither.