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Money Matters-- Golisano Throws Lots At Senate Challengers

by: robinia

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 10:59:13 AM EDT

There is breaking news that Tom Golisano is intending to bankroll a new 527 group to "shake up" the NYS Senate. The report says that he will be targetting particular races, and giving a cool 1 million per race.

As we don't have any campaign finance reform, this is big news. The report is crediting "unnamed sources close to Golisano," but being pretty specific.

Golisano will be supporting Erie County Legislator Kathy Konst (D) in her bid to unseat State Sen. Dale Volker (R-Erie), former boxer Joe Mesi (D) in his primary bid to succeed retiring Sen. Mary Lou Rath (R-Erie) and former State Sen. Rick Dollinger (D-Monroe) in his bid to unseat Sen. Joe Robach (R-Monroe), though Golisano is unlikely to announce these specific candidates at his press conference next week.

Robert, this is going to mess with your rankings!

What does it mean that billionaire Golisano is picking up where Eliot Spitzer left off on the bankrolling-Senate-challengers stuff?

robinia :: Money Matters-- Golisano Throws Lots At Senate Challengers

Tags: Golisano, 527s, Campaign Finance Reform, (All Tags)

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Money Matters-- Golisano Throws Lots At Senate Challengers | 19 comments

It means . . . (0.00 / 0)

Tom Golisano is preparing to do that which Mike Bloomberg is not - run for Governor as a Republican/Independent . . .

by: Lead Dog @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 10:17:28 AM CDT

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Golisano Run for Governor!? (0.00 / 0)

Why, I could never imagine that happening!

by: Klugstah @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 10:32:14 AM CDT

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Like the plebe I am... (4.00 / 1)

...I'm just looking for the positive fallout (aka "table crumbs") that trickle down from the Masters' Table.

Guess I am also not so worried about Golisano winning a gubernatorial race, given earlier scores on that. I'm figuring he is trying to throw his weight around without buying each and every NYS vote he would need to do it through the buying himself the executive branch.

Have I mentioned Clean Money/Clean Elections lately? Still need it bad.

by: robinia @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 10:37:42 AM CDT

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This is major news Robinia! (4.00 / 1)

I hope Galisano extends this 527 effort to Barbers race as well. Interesting that no incumbent Dmocrats emerged as targets for him either!!!

by: politics64 @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 10:40:07 AM CDT

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NAILED IT! (0.00 / 0)

Good work Lead Dog.

http://www.buffalonews.com/cit...

by: Amherst Guy @ Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 11:20:45 AM CST

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This is a very odd, but welcome, move (0.00 / 0)

Before this news, it seemed like Golisano was drifting right in his political views, not left. After Running for Governor in 2002 as the independence standard bearer he switched his registration to R before 2006, some thought he would try to get the republican nod for governor but it never happened. Now he is supporting Democrats for the State Senate. This is extremely odd for someone who a short while ago seemed like he would seek office as a Republican. I wonder what his angle is.

by: sabachi @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 11:08:43 AM CDT

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Yeah-- what is his angle? (0.00 / 0)

Is it beyond the realm of possibility that he sees the need to smash the dysfunctional Albany status quo in any way that is remotely possible? He is, after all, a businessman.

Or, is he trying to purchase personal notoriety at any cost? Or, get politicians in his debt, so they will listen (yet, he never got in line in the usual fashion on that...)?

What gives, that he is putting all this cash on the line? Will be interesting to watch.

by: robinia @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 11:14:47 AM CDT

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I think he's an opportunist (0.00 / 0)

he can read the writing on the wall

by: Roatti @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 12:02:39 PM CDT

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I think this is pretty cut and dry (4.00 / 1)

He's a Billionaire opportunist trying to buy representation in the new Democratic Senate for Billionaires like himself.

Screw that. The whole point of taking the Senate is to bring Albany back to the people.

Why bother taking the Senate if we're selling out before we start?

by: Amherst Guy @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 12:11:40 PM CDT

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To pass campaign finance reform-- (0.00 / 0)

LOL.

Is there any way out of this conondrum?

by: robinia @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 12:22:01 PM CDT

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There are many reasons to turn the state senate blue.... (0.00 / 0)

beyond any billionaire efforts of Golisano to curry favor with the new majority. Clean Elections, Marriage Equality, Pro-Labor Rights, a more equitable taxation system and expanded healthcare to name a few!

by: politics64 @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 13:27:56 PM CDT

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You are missing the point (0.00 / 0)

We can easily take back the state senate with real candidates who are real Democrats instead of hacks like Mesi and Konst. Why wouldn't we want to?

by: Amherst Guy @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 14:43:15 PM CDT

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Trading one set of rich for another. (0.00 / 0)

Seems like Golisano is just trying to buy his way with Dems instead of the GOP. Nothing new. Just a rich person buying what he wants. Anyone who thinks that he won't call in favors from the hopefully soon to be elected candidates he is giving money to is being naive.

by: MattS @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 14:53:20 PM CDT

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Why is everyone shocked? (0.00 / 0)

If Tom Golisano wants to throw money at Democrats trying to unseat Republicans, why should people complain? Golisano was the biggest thorn in Pataki's side during his tenure as Governor and given his tenuous relations with his own party, it should come as no surprise that he's looking to elect Democrats, who will more likely to be in step with his reform agenda.

by: daniel.jones @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 12:55:24 PM CDT

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Not shocked at all (0.00 / 0)

Actually, I am kicking myself for not analyzing through to seeing this happening in advance and predicting it. Makes much sense given his record.

by: robinia @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 13:34:26 PM CDT

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Well (0.00 / 0)

Predicting Tom Golisano can be difficult, being from a town thats nudged between Buffalo and Rochester I get both media market coverage. Golisano is tough, verbal and absolutely loved in Western New York, his endorsement (and money) will help any candidate, that being said, he's also very hard to predict, he honestly speaks what he feels without dragging others through the mud, I respect that.

by: daniel.jones @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 13:41:38 PM CDT

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And.... (0.00 / 0)

I think that this puts the 61st and 59th district races higher on everyone's radar.

by: daniel.jones @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 18:36:03 PM CDT

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Puts them higher on everybody's radar, but also... (0.00 / 0)

If these three candidates were to win their respective primaries and generals, we might as well combine the three senate districts into one-we will essentially have gone from the rule of "1 man, 1 vote," to "1 man, 3 votes." Who knows what Golisano's motivation is (it's difficult to get into the mind of a billionaire, when you're struggling to balance work and school, and fill your gas tank), but I wouldn't doubt that if Uncle Tommy gave any of these (possible) future State Senators a call, he'll get his way. Lord knows Mesi can't think for himself, so Golisano must be a Godsend-he can bankroll Mesi's campaign and vote for him too! The banner at the top of TAP's homepage says "this belongs to you...lets take it back." As it correctly states, Albany belongs to you and me, not Tom Golisano. Believe me: I want to see the Democrats take control of the state senate as much as anyone, but if this is how we have to do it, by having one man buy himself multiple seats (I'd love to be Golisano, waking up in the morning, and realising I need to blow $3million somehow) then I'd almost rather not even bother contesting these districts.

by: blueyork05 @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 19:55:38 PM CDT

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We have other Dems (0.00 / 0)

running in 59 and 61. You can help tell Tom Golisano that we don't need his money to win the state senate by donating now to a Real Democrat in SD-61 with elective experience: Michele Iannello

by: Stephen Nazwisko @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 21:20:38 PM CDT

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