In primary, Schneiderman, Rice lead race for big money

ALBANY - Among the five Democrats vying for state attorney general, Eric Schneiderman and Kathleen Rice are winning the final dash for big money before Tuesday's primary, records show.

Since Aug. 31, Schneiderman, a state senator from Manhattan, has collected $445,600 for his campaign treasury, including $300,000 from his bank account. Rice, the Nassau County district attorney, follows with $193,900 - none of it personal loans.

The pair is far ahead of the other candidates, each of whom has raised $10,000 or less in the nine-day period. Candidates have to disclose only donations exceeding $1,000 at this time.

Schneiderman arguably needs to raise funds because he had less cash on hand than all but one candidate as of Aug. 30, the cutoff for the final campaign finance report before the Tuesday vote. The field also includes a wealthy self-funder: former federal prosecutor Sean Coffey, who already has given $4 million to his campaign.

Political experts said yesterday it was prudent for those seeking to follow Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to intensify fundraising now because polls show there is no front-runner. Cash is needed to pay for television commercials, brochures and get-out-the-vote operations, they said.

"In a low-visibility race, especially a primary, voters aren't paying attention until Labor Day," said Michael J. Malbin, director of the Campaign Finance Institute, a nonpartisan think-tank in Washington. "A flood of advertising can make a difference in such a race if the airtime is still available to buy."

Coffey, who grew up in Hempstead Village, reported having $1.6 million on hand as of Aug. 30 - with $1 million coming from his own pockets. His largest contributors included lawyers, investment bankers and business executives.

Rice had the most on hand: $2.8 million. Her biggest donors continued to be linked to the Weitz & Luxenberg personal injury law firm in Manhattan, where Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver works part-time. She also got backing from the Yankees and descendants of Walt Disney and financier Andrew W. Mellon.

Rice has attempted to make an issue of her rivals' personal loans to their campaigns, particularly Schneiderman's loans. She has called for the release of his income tax returns, which he has pledged to do before Tuesday.

Schneiderman campaign manager Emily Arsenault noted the senator raised more money than any candidate for the first time in the Aug. 10-30 period "and his willingness to invest his own resources at this final juncture is a sign of our confidence that we are on the brink of an upset victory."

Schneiderman ended last month with about $1.3 million in his coffers. The top donor was the United Federation of Teachers union. He has loaned his campaign $855,000 to date.

Eric Dinallo, a former state insurance superintendent, lags in fundraising but had $1.6 million on hand as of Aug. 30, mainly by not spending.

Assemb. Richard Brodsky of Westchester also hasn't matched his rivals in the money race. He had only $335,494 in his campaign treasury.

Five Democrats are vying for the nomination for state attorney general. The size of their respective campaign treasuries and largest donors may help determine who prevails in Tuesday’s primary.

Here’s how much money each had on hand after the last 20 days of August:

Assemb. Richard Brodsky

Cash on hand $335,494

BIG DONORS

International Union of Operating Engineers, $16,000 Public Employees Federation, $10,000 LCWP Open Space/LC Main Aterlier Revenue, building management company in Valhalla, $10,000 Kenilworth-Marlin Realty/Kenilworth Management Corp., building management company in Manhattan, $7,600 Robert Congel, shopping mall developer from Syracuse, $5,000

Sean Coffey

Cash on hand $1.6 million*

BIG DONORS

G. Anthony Gelderman III, lawyer in New Orleans, $7,500 Marie McKeige, civic association president in Rye, $5,000 Richard C. Dresdale, investment banker from Bronxville, $2,500 Carl Frischling, lawyer in Manhattan, $2,500 Paul Fribourg, president of Continental Grain Company in Manhattan, $2,000

Eric Dinallo

Cash on hand $1.6 million

BIG DONORS

Nancy Halis, philanthropist and social worker from Manhattan, $8,100 David Roberts of Manhattan, $8,100 Centre Life Insurance Co. of Manhattan, $5,000 Michael Martino of New Canaan, Conn., $5,000 Michael S. McGavick, business executive and GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in 2006 from Washington state, $5,000

Nassau DA Kathleen Rice

Cash on hand $2.8 million

BIG DONORS

Randi Luxenberg, wife of founder of personal injury law firm in Manhattan, $18,100 Renee Pilevsky, philanthropist in Manhattan, $18,100 Stephen B. Siegel, CB Richard Ellis real estate company in Manhattan, $18,100 Yankee Global Enterprises, owner of the New York Yankees baseball team, $15,000 Abigail Disney, grandniece of Walt Disney, filmmaker and philanthropist in New York City, $5,000

State Sen. Eric Schneiderman

Cash on hand $1.3 million**

BIG DONORS

United Federation of Teachers union, $25,000 Andrew Barroway and law firm of Barroway, Topaz, Kessler, Meltzer & Check in Radnor, Pa., $20,000 William Haines, real estate executive in Manhattan, $20,000 Catherine C. Samuels, lawyer in Larchmont, $20,000 Elizabeth B. Strickler, philanthropist and environmental advocate in Manhattan, $20,000

NOTES: * Includes $1 million personal loan from the candidate. ** Includes $250,000 personal loan from the candidate but not $300,000 loan made after 20-day disclosure report was filed.

— Compiled by James T. Madore

SOURCES: NYS Board of Elections, Newsday research