Fossella Says He's Got Enough Money
The day after Rudy Giuliani dropped out the presidential campaign, the city’s only Republican Congressman says he has plenty of money on hand for his own re-election campaign this November.
“We are fully on schedule with our fundraising plans as we head into the election year,” said Representative Vito Fossella in a public statement. “Our fundraising success is reflective of the widespread support we enjoy in Staten Island and Brooklyn.”
Fossella's campaign--he represents Brooklyn and Staten Island--says he raised $304,453 in the latest fund-raising quarter, and has $250,501 on hand. Overall, he raised $700,697 and spent $462,866 this election cycle.
There are two Democrats looking to unseat Fossella. City Councilman Domenic Recchia has raised $220,770, spent $14,318 and has $206,451 on hand for this campaign cycle.
Attorney Steve Harrison, who lost to Fossella in 2006, raised $69,203 this period, spend $23,354.11, and has $83,116.05 on hand [numbers updated].
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.0
- 42.0
- Obama +4.0
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.7
- 33.0
- +22.7
- McCain
- 52.7
- 34.1
- +18.6
I looked on the FEC website, for the indiviual contributors to Mr. Recchia's Committee. Unlike those of Mr. Harrison & Mr. Fosella, Mr. Recchia doesn't have a list of donors. What's up with that? Nothing comes up.
Harrison's funraising is barely credible for a City Council candidate getting quadruple matching funds. He's prhibitively outgunned and should perhaps consider that Council race instead. He's not earned a seat yet at the grownups table
Thanks for reminding me. I'll send Vito $250 today. Now if we could just get rid of Carolyn Maloney...barf.
The beauty of this race is that Democrats don't even need to match Vito's money, they just have to come reasonably close.
Lunkhead that he is, Vito won't hire qualified campaign pros. Instead, he hires his buddies.
Unfortunately, for the Congressman, his buddied wouldn't know effective mail and media if it walked up and bit them.
To Anon 2:06: Those numbers for Mr. Harrison are for Sept. They are not up to date. Why don't you READ before making such a comment.
Vito sure does have enough money. I wonder if he cashed the check that HARRISON HIMSELF gave him for his re-elections in 2000 and 2002.
Yeesh.
those are harrison's actual numbers. he should reconsider this one, he can't compete.
4:33... How about Mr. Recchia, spying for the Fossella camp when Mr. Barbaro was running against Fosella. Mr. Recchia is quite a guy & Democrat. What a BUM.
Those are Harrison's numbers from the 3rd quarter NOT the 4th quarter. Additionally, Vito from individuals in the 4th quarter raised less than $130,000 and some of those look like duplicate contributions. As for Recchia, have I mentioned that he doesn't even live in the district?
This race was over when Recchia stepped in. Neither Fossella nor Harrison stand a chance. You can not even compare them to Recchia or his legislative record and budgetory achievements. And who is this guy Harrison? Maybe he can run for the chair of the local community board. As for Vito, what a waste of congessional seat, its long over due for someone politically savy like Domenic to start delivering what all of Staten Island and Brooklyn truly deserve, bring back the goodies while the congress is under control. The good old days of do nothing congress are over, so are the numbered days for do nothing Fossela are over.
Hmmm, seems like I missed my chance to run against Vito. I grew up in Great Kills with Andy Lanza, and went to school with both Andy and Vito. Same background, but with correct progressive views. I'm self-made now, and was thinking about coming back, to give something back to the community (like beating Vito:). But, looking at the political climate, it seems to be bad timing. See you in 2010.