More Rudy

via Liz Benjamin;

Panicked by Rudy Giuliani's tanking presidential campaign, New York Republicans are contemplating abandoning him in favor of a man who ditched them months ago.

"Rudy's downward spiral has caused enough concern that there have been conversations about whether people will continue to support him or cut their losses now and jump on the Bloomberg bandwagon," said one GOP insider who has been privy to the talks.

Rudy finished 6th out of 7 in Iowa.
Rudy finished tied for last in Wyoming.
Rudy is likely to finish 4th or 5th out of 6 in Hew Hampshire.



That large drop off of Rudy's trend line is not just the chances of him winning the nomination free falling, it is also the downward trend of Rep. Fossella having a Republican nominee on top of the ticket with strong NY ties who would have driven Republican voters to the polls this fall.

Frank Barbaro and Stephen Harrison fund raising

Elizabeth at the Daily Politics, the NY Daily News political blog, covers the Barbaro endorsement. For me the most interesting quote of it all is this;

He also rejected the argument that it will take $1 million or more to run a successful campaign against Fossella, who spent $1.3 million to Harrison’s $130,000, saying: “I think it will take $500,000, and I think we can raise that.”

'WE can raise that'. Remember that Barbaro raised $425,000 in his campaign in 2004, so he knows how to raise money and has the connections to do so.

Daily Politics coverage of Fossella's 3Q fundraising

via Elizabeth at Daily Politics;

- Rep. Vito Fossella, 13th CD, ranks 234th. He spent almost as much as he raised, $358,629 and $396,514, respectively, and has $50,286 on hand plus $73,582 worth of debt. His 2006 Democratic opponent, Steve Harrison, who is running again next fall, raised $37,618, spent $6,849 and has $37,367 on hand plus $1,595 worth of debt.

The article gathers year to date financial numbers which probably casts Fossella's finances in too good of a light. We already have covered that the third quarter was bad for Fossella where he spent more money than he brought in $152k to $98 and his cash on hand more than likely is entirely only general election funds.