2007.07.17: July 17, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Nepal: Politics: Congress: Syracuse Post Standard: James Walsh's Congressional seat becomes one of the top battlegrounds for the 2008 congressional election
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2007.07.17: July 17, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Nepal: Politics: Congress: Syracuse Post Standard: James Walsh's Congressional seat becomes one of the top battlegrounds for the 2008 congressional election
James Walsh's Congressional seat becomes one of the top battlegrounds for the 2008 congressional election
Quarterly campaign finance reports released Monday by the Federal Election Commission show Walsh, R-Onondaga, raised more money ($299,393) than Maffei ($211,550), a Democrat from DeWitt, in the quarter ending June 30. Walsh, R-Onondaga, pulled in about one-third of his money from political action committees, most of them in Washington, D.C. Among his donors are PACs representing large companies such as telecommunications giant AT&T and defense contractor Northrop Grumman. Walsh said it is the earliest he has ever had to start raising money in his 18 years in Congress. He has hired a fundraising firm from Alexandria, Va., for a $5,000 monthly retainer. Walsh said he raises most of the money at breakfasts in Washington, D.C., organized by the company. Congressman James Walsh of New York served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal in the 1960's.
James Walsh's Congressional seat becomes one of the top battlegrounds for the 2008 congressional election
Big money pours in for Walsh and Maffei
Campaign contributions in key race are coming from outsiders, both sides claim.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
By Mark Weiner
Washington Bureau
Rep. James Walsh and Dan Maffei are attracting financial support from across the nation as their race becomes one of the top battlegrounds in the 2008 congressional election, which is still a year and a half away.
Quarterly campaign finance reports released Monday by the Federal Election Commission show Walsh, R-Onondaga, raised more money ($299,393) than Maffei ($211,550), a Democrat from DeWitt, in the quarter ending June 30.
The total gave Maffei more cash on hand, about $220,000, than at any time in the 2006 election, which he lost by about 3,000 votes despite winning in Onondaga County.
But a bigger indicator of interest in the rematch is the FEC list that shows from where both candidates received their campaign contributions.
Real estate mogul Donald J. Trump, philanthropist Edgar Bronfman, Disney heiress Abigail Disney and Thurgood Marshall Jr., son of the former Supreme Court justice, are among those from outside Central New York who donated to Maffei, the FEC records show.
Walsh, R-Onondaga, pulled in about one-third of his money from political action committees, most of them in Washington, D.C. Among his donors are PACs representing large companies such as telecommunications giant AT&T and defense contractor Northrop Grumman.
"The biggest difference in these two reports is that most of Jim Walsh's donors can actually vote for Jim Walsh," said Dan Gage, speaking for the Walsh campaign.
"The overwhelming majority of Congressman Walsh's donations originate in Upstate New York, and that says volumes of the support he holds and respect he garners in our region," Gage said.
Maffei's campaign noted that about 75 percent of his contributions in the quarter from April 1 through June 30 came from individuals.
"That goes to show you our support," said Dan Krupnick, of Syracuse, Maffei's campaign finance director. "Individuals are the people who vote. It shows you people are eager for change. And they're doing whatever they can."
Krupnick added, "The congressman wants more of the same. He's going back to his Washington lobbyist friends for contributions."
When asked about a donor list that shows the majority of Maffei's individual contributors live outside of Central New York, Krupnick said, "I think our numbers speak for themselves. They show there is really strong support for Dan Maffei."
Walsh's campaign disagrees.
"Dan Maffei can use whatever talking point he likes, but nothing can hide the fact that the overwhelming majority of his fundraising dollars parachuted into this account from liberal activists in Hollywood, Washington and New York City," Gage said. "His local dollars are from his family - all of whom maxed out."
Both candidates hired full-time fundraising staff at the start of the year, recognizing that the 25th Congressional District would be targeted by both national parties in 2008.
Walsh said it is the earliest he has ever had to start raising money in his 18 years in Congress. He has hired a fundraising firm from Alexandria, Va., for a $5,000 monthly retainer. Walsh said he raises most of the money at breakfasts in Washington, D.C., organized by the company.
Washington bureau reporter Mark Weiner can be reached at mark.weiner@newhouse.com or 202-383-7818.
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Story Source: Syracuse Post Standard
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