Press Room

Campaign fund race heats up

Times Herald-Record, April 17, 2006
By Brendan Scott

A few fat checks from entertainment icons have earned congressional hopeful John Hall headlines, but they won't wrest the fundraising crown from Judy Aydelott.

As a singer-songwriter who penned a couple of Top 10 hits in the 1970s, Hall promised to tap the deep pockets of the music industry in his bid to unseat Rep. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah. He's collected donations from, among others, songsmith Jackson Browne and music mogul David Geffen.

But after nearly six months of fundraising, Hall has spent much of the $145,125 he's raised, according to federal campaign reports filed over the weekend. Meanwhile, his rival Judy Aydelott - an attorney from Katonah - raised $465,852.

That puts her far ahead of the other five Democrats seeking the party's nod to challenge Kelly. It also secures her front-runner status at a time when Democrats are growing more anxious to clear the crowded field.

"I thought John Hall was going to do a lot better and he fell flat," Aydelott said. "He's not the viable candidate. I'm the one who is electable."

In fact, Hall can't even claim second place in the money race.

That goes to Ben Shuldiner of Westchester County, a 28-year-old principal for an alternative Brooklyn high school, who had been written off by many party leaders. Now that he has $127,742 in the bank, he's starting to look like a contender.

Political strategists see the ability to raise big money fast as an essential skill for anyone hoping to dislodge a sitting member of Congress.

While the Democrats battle among themselves, the fruits of incumbency have helped Kelly build up nearly $1 million in reserves. The six-term congresswoman raked in $142,782 since the new year, half of which came from Beltway-based political action committees.

Hall, who just hired Internet fundraising pioneer Joe Trippi, says he "front- loaded" his campaign to gain exposure early. He has more events planned to bolster his remaining $59,046 war chest.

"We're easily the highest-profile campaign," said Hall, who lives in Dover Plains. "It costs money to do that."

But money begets money.

Aydelott says she will be the guest of honor at a fundraiser hosted by billionaire Democratic financier George Soros next month. And party leaders are eager to rally behind a challenger and avoid a bloody primary.

"There's a real effort to clear the field," said one leading Westchester Democrat. "There comes a point, if you haven't reached $200,000, it's time for you to pack up and go home."