LI candidates counting on outside donors

WASHINGTON -- Outside money is shaping the race for campaign funds in this year's East End rematch between Rep. Tim Bishop and his Republican challenger Randy Altschuler, new Federal Election Commission filings show.

As they head for another potentially close race this year, aides to the five-term Southampton Democrat and the St. James businessman acknowledged they are turning for help to funders outside the district.

After a year of raising campaign funds, Bishop and Altschuler are close in individual contributions -- $684,000 for Bishop and $663,000 for Altschuler, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

But a closer look at the numbers shows about four out of five of Altschuler's individual donations were from outside the district.

While district residents account for three of four of Bishop's individual donors, he collected nearly $500,000 last year from outside political action committees and other Democratic lawmakers. Altschuler raised $37,750 from PACs.

"Bishop is very deeply relying on special interest PAC money at this point, while Randy is relying on individual contributions," said Altschuler spokesman Chris Russell.

Bishop spokesman Oliver Longwell said members of unions whose PACs contribute to Bishop may live in the district. He also criticized Altschuler for relying mostly on individual donors from outside the district, compared with Bishop's in-district funding. "It reflects Tim's deep support in the district," Longwell said.

Both sides expect a repeat of last election's waves of independent expenditures for ads and phone calls paid for by outside groups. Russell said he's not surprised by outside interest.

"If you look around the country, races that could potentially flip from one party to the other attracts money and attracts attention," Russell said.

Altschuler conceded to Bishop 36 days after the 2010 election.

In campaign finance reports filed this week, Bishop said he raised $197,929 in the last quarter of 2011 and had $1.1 million in the bank at the end of the year. Altschuler reported raising $214,598 with $583,568 in cash at year's end.

Attorney George Demos, also seeking the GOP nod to challenge Bishop, reported raising $12,865 and had $86,386 in cash.

In the only statewide race in this year's election, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) reported she raised $1.6 million in the final quarter and had $8.1 million in cash at the end of 2011.

That puts her on track to raise more money in her bid for a full six-year term than she did in 2010, when she spent $13 million to win a two-year term.

George Maragos, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run against her, said he lent his campaign about $1 million. "I won't raise any money until I get the nomination," said the Nassau County comptroller.

A report for GOP challenger Scott Noren of Ithaca was not available. Libertarian candidate Eric Sundwall reported raising $2,167 and had $302 in cash.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is not running for re-election this year, reported raising $40,847 and having $10 million in the bank.

In the other Long Island congressional races, incumbents reported having much more money than their challengers at the start of this election year.

Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) had $2.3 million in cash; Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) had $636,210; Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) had $587,637; and Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights) had $499,906.

No challenger had more than $50,000 in the bank.