Financial report shows good sign for Democrat

WASHINGTON — With less than two weeks before Election Day, Dierdre K. Scozzafava is losing the money battle in the race to replace former Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor.

Ms. Scozzafava, the Republican state assemblywoman from Gouverneur, had just $40,000 in campaign cash as of Oct. 14, according to her campaign finance disclosure at the Federal Election Commission, which is well behind both of her rivals. The FEC filing confirms reports in recent weeks that her campaign is dragging financially as a battle rages within the GOP over her candidacy.

William L. Owens, the Democrat, reported having $128,360 in campaign money, and Douglas L. Hoffman, the Conservative who has chewed away at Ms. Scozzafava's support among Republicans, had $73,045.

Ms. Scozzafava raised less than half of what Mr. Owens did by that date, which was before President Obama's Oct. 20 fundraiser for Mr. Owens. The reports also came too late to catch some funds Ms. Scozzafava may have raised after reports surfaced about her fundraising woes, and too late to capture money Mr. Hoffman could generate from high-profile conservative endorsements such as Sarah Palin.

Mr. Owens raised a total of $503,296 through Oct. 14, and Ms. Scozzafava raised $233,583. Mr. Hoffman raised $205,139.

The reports reflect other realities about the race, such as Mr. Hoffman's reliance on conservative groups outside of New York, Ms. Scozzafava's support among allies of former Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, and Mr. Owens's ability to mix relatively small individual contributions from the north country with a flood of money from Democratic members of Congress.

Mr. Hoffman's biggest source of funds other than himself was the political action committee for Club for Growth, which contributed more than $95,000. He has paid for his congressional campaign almost entirely with money from outside the state, from groups that never supported the Republican he aims to replace, Mr. McHugh.

The Citizens United Political Action Fund, a conservative group, gave Mr. Hoffman $10,000.

He also accepted $1,000 from the God is Not Government PAC, based in Washington, which describes itself as a "real religious right Political Action Committee" that can "run radio and TV ads favoring conservative Christian candidates" and requires its recipients to affirm in writing that they "are pro-life, pro-family and stand firmly against the unbiblical welfare state that is destroying the spiritual and economic greatness of our nation."

Mr. Hoffman had $73,045 remaining in his campaign account as of Oct. 14, but a spokesman, Robert H. Ryan, said much more money has been coming in. He said his candidate has raised $327,000 since Oct. 15, including $116,000 on Thursday and Friday. Mr. Ryan said the "vast majority" of the recent cash came in before Mrs. Palin's Thursday endorsement.

Mr. Hoffman had spent $229,878 as of Oct. 14.

Mr. Hoffman's biggest contributor through that date was himself. He lent the campaign $102,000 on Aug. 3.

His biggest expense, $89,000, has been on advertising. He has spent about $40,000 on outside campaign consultants, which led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to complain that he, along with Ms. Scozzafava, was trying to skirt payroll taxes on the employees.

Treating campaign workers as consultants is not uncommon in campaigns, especially when candidates are trying to save money. The employee becomes responsible for paying the taxes. Mr. Owens's campaign has taken on that responsibility itself.

Mr. Owens received $142,742 in bundled contributions from the ActBlue organization, based in Cambridge, Mass., which raises money for Democratic candidates. He also reported $87,700 from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as well as $6,000 from the campaign of House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and $4,000 from the campaign of House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md. The Republicans have sought to portray him as indebted to the House's more liberal Democratic leadership.

In addition to dozens of individual contributors in the district, Ms. Scozzafava reported $4,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee — although that was before a later infusion of national Republican funds — as well as $5,000 from the New York Republican Party. She gave her own campaign $12,000, the FEC filing shows.

Labor unions that supported Mr. McHugh sent Ms. Scozzafava money as well, through their PACs, including the NAPUS PAC for postmasters, which gave $1,000, and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, which gave $2,500.

She received $4,940 from the PAC for the National Rifle Association and $2,000 from the New York PAC of the National Abortion Rights Action League.

The Republican Main Street Partnership, a moderate group, gave $5,000 through its political action committee.