Alan Hevesi's 11-day pre-general campaign finance filing has finally popped up at the Board of Elections.
It shows, as expected, that as of last Monday -- when his ethics crisis began in earnest -- he had a warchest that dwarfed Chris Callaghan, with $4.6 million on hand compared to a mere $66,447 for the Republican challenger. During the previous three weeks, Hevesi had spent $1.54 million and raised $351,455. Callaghan spent $38,000 and raised $61,000.
Since Monday, Hevesi has filed 24-hour notices on another $43,000 in contributions. Amid saturation coverage of the chauffeur scandal in the NY media, $41,500 has come from out-of-state donors. The only exception: $1500 from the New York State AFL-CIO. Callaghan has no 24-hour notices filed, but has a big fundraiser scheduled tonight in Manhattan, with Pataki's fundraiser helping out.
In the only other competitive race, Democrat Andrew Cuomo had $1.7 million on hand as of Oct. 23, and Jeanine Pirro reported $1.1 million in their face-off for attorney general. Since then, however, Andrew has been the champion of the 24-hour notices, raking in more than $500,000 compared to just $19,200 for Pirro from those civic-minded folks who wait until the end to place their bets.
And guess which one of them has a 20-point lead in the polls?
Everybody loves a winner, and everyone wants to be friends with likely new AG Cuomo -- from an outfit called Antares Investment Partners LLC ($5000) to Deerfield Yankee Candle Acquisition LLC ($12,500), well-known PI lawyer Arthur Luxenberg ($5000), and LAWPAC, the trial lawyers' political action committee. The Ninth Decade Fund, the PAC of a Philadelphia lawfirm that lobbies in NY for MGM on racing and other issues, gave $5000.
More: Oakdale Mall LLC, an affiliate of real estate giant Vornado, gave $25,000. Two entities controlled by the brother of one-time primary opponent Mark Green, SL Green Leasing LLC and SL Green Management LLC, gave a total of $50,000. The Democratic Attorney Generals Assn. in Denver kicked in $33,900.