Incumbency Drying Up Just Before the Election?

The NY-11^th district duel between incumbent Michael Grimm (R) and Democratic challenger Domenic Recchia has become aclosely watched race, as recently reported by our own Blotter reporter Ryan Eboh.

 

The money behind the race is as tightly wound as the polls. Although the filings given by both campaigns are three months old, the data shows minute differences in fundraising capabilities. Both have raised $1.8 million and have roughly $1 million readily available, the only major difference being Grimm spending twice as much as his opponent ($900,000 to $540,000). Recchia’s individual contribution lead has washed away Grimm’s incumbency fundraising advantage.

 

This race has seen basically the entire outside spending target the Republican incumbent. Just $10 was given to support Recchia while the other million dollars was ammunition against Grimm. The $100,000 that was just spent by the Democrats in a new advertisement campaign calls attention to his alleged criminal wrongdoing.

 

The only difference between Democratic Party fundraising involvement of the NY-21^st and 11^th is… one dollar. The $3,891 check (Woolf received $3,892) written to the Recchia campaign once again beats the Republican leadership donations given to the state. Just like the Stefanik campaign, nothing has been given to Grimm.