De Blasio Leads In Latest Campaign Finance Period
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Candidates eyeing a run for City Hall in 2013 had to file their latest campaign finance figures with the city on Tuesday, and there were some winners and losers. NY1’s Courtney Gross filed the following report.Public Advocate Bill de Blasio had a good day on Tuesday.
"This was really a five borough effort, and it creates a lot of momentum," said de Blasio.
The public advocate came out ahead in the latest campaign finance period, reaching almost a million dollars raised in the last six months. Bill Thompson trailed with about $650,000, followed by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Comptroller John Liu and Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
The totals are a different story. Quinn has raised far more than anyone else. She has $4.5 million on hand and has reached the primary spending cap. Stringer has about $3 million. De Blasio and Liu each have $1.6 million. Thompson's campaign could not provide figures.
Liu, whose campaign account is the subject of a federal investigation, raised half of the money he had in the previous fundraising period.
Within the last six months, one of his fundraisers was accused of setting up a straw donor scheme. The scandal is said to have damaged his ability to raise money. He has already spent campaign cash on attorneys.
As part of his filing, the comptroller also released a list of people who collect donations for him. He had initially promised to do so in December.
Overall, observers say any serious candidate for citywide office will reach the spending cap.
"We're almost two years away from the primary, and people are just running to show that they’re more powerful. How do they do that? By showing a lot of dough. And it's a way of telling other people who contribute to other candidates not to do it,” said Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf.
Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion may not formally be eyeing Gracie Mansion, but he still has more than $1.1 million in the bank, possibly for a potential citywide run.
Manhattan Media President Tom Allon, a dark horse for City Hall, raised only $123,000, and he spent most of it.
The primary is still a year and a half away, so candidates still have plenty of time to catch up.
Observers say the mayoral field is still relatively unsettled. You never know if another candidate will come out of the woodwork.