SD-43: Russo Endorsed By Bricklayers and Allied Trades

Russo picking up steam? (0.00 / 0)

That's pretty funny.

On Russo's recent filing, he had raised money from only 14 individuals. One of these individuals gave him around 60% of the money. His mom. Talk about a "special interest."

Out of the union money he has received, one contribution was for $2,000 and the rest were miniscule.

Russo is running around the district telling everyone that "the unions are going to give me $1.2 million" which is on the wrong side of borderline delusional.

I went to his "fundraiser" the other night in Rensselaer. The room was half-empty and it was only a $40 ticket! I saw the Breslins too. They left before Russo even spoke. What a joke.

Brian Premo is endorsed by both the Rensselaer and Saratoga Democratic Committees. Brian Premo can beat Roy McDonald. Mike Russo cannot. The end.

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by: SaratogaDemocrat @ Sun Aug 17, 2008 at 05:05:58 AM UTC

A bit misleading... (4.00 / 1)

Okay - so you are obviously a Brian Premo fan. Unless, of course, your last sentence was just an unbiased viewpoint.

That said, Russo has been in this race for a very short time. Based on news accounts, he's been in this race for about six weeks. That's not very long, so I can understand why his 32 day filing doesn't have tens of thousands of dollars listed.

However, Premo has been in this race for at least five months. According to Premo's filing, he loaned his campaign $75,000. He has $72,659.63 cash on hand. He received one contribution: A $1,000 contribution from Thomas Kenney.

Premo's 32 day filing shows us that he received $8,000 from three donors and has over $79,000 cash on hand.

Last time I checked, 14 individuals beats four individual contributors any day. A large chunk of that money is Premo's own money.

We'll see how Russo does over the next couple of weeks. While Russo certainly needs to make more money, I don't think four contributors in five-plus months is anything to brag about.  

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by: robert.harding @ Sun Aug 17, 2008 at 06:56:34 AM UTC

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Here's the difference (0.00 / 0)

Robert, you talk about your DFA trainings here and there, right?

What is the most important fundraising circle?

See, the thing with Premo is that when you can afford to do what you need to do, you can actually hold off on major fundraising until you need to.

So while most candidates have to spend hour after hour after hour doing the call time game, Premo gets to be out there actually talking to voters--something that every candidate should have the ability to do (hence the need for clean elections so candidates can be voted for based on issues, not on how much call time they do.)

When Premo wants to fill the coiffers, wait and see. He was the assistant DA in Rensselaer County and has handled 10s of 1000s of cases on both sides--prosecution and defense.

While most attorneys receive complaints a year, usually a couple dozen just by the nature of the job, over his entire career Premo has never received a complaint.

Premo wants to get the special interest money OUT of Albany. Including from special interests that might be on our side. Calling the GOP out for their special interest $ but taking our own is ineffective. Additionally, just a quick question:

Do you honestly believe labor wants the Democrats to take the Senate? After $1M+ a year contributions to GOP candidates for many, many years, I question it myself.

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by: SaratogaDemocrat @ Sun Aug 17, 2008 at 14:31:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

SaratogaDemocrat (0.00 / 0)

The money he loaned his campaign won't be enough for a state senate campaign. If he plans to give more, fine. If he doesn't, he will have to raise money. Four donors isn't a lot, considering he's been in this race for over five months now.

As for the special interest money, there are good special interests. Lumping all special interests into one group (BAD special interests) is misleading and wrong. I don't call the GOP out on their special interests because they have ones that they would consider good special interests. We aren't going to rid special interests out of our politics until we reform the system. So until that point, I could care less what special interest money a candidate takes. If they take it, fine. If they don't, fine. What I care about is whether or not they support clean money, clean elections or some sort of public financing system that would make special interests irrelevant. That's what truly matters to me.

Do I believe labor wants to take the Senate? Yes. There are plenty of unions out there that have backed Democrats. Are all unions that way? No.  

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by: robert.harding @ Sun Aug 17, 2008 at 16:41:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Funding (0.00 / 0)

The reason I asked what the first and primary fundraising circle was to point out that Premo's inner circle of family, friends, associates will have no problem donating to him.

Count on that. Currently however since he doesn't need to rely on call time, Premo can talk to voters instead (again, it would be nice if all candidates could do that.)

You are ABSOLUTELY correct that the money he released ($70,000) will not be enough to run a state senate race.

What do you think is enough? 250K? 350K? 500K?

Premo will hit those numbers, no problem.

Russo on the other hand will not.

Making a comparison argument that a candidate who reported $6,400 will be able to raise more funds than a candidate who has nearly $100,000 cash on hand (note: not RAISED, cash on hand) will be somehow able to raise more money doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

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by: SaratogaDemocrat @ Sun Aug 17, 2008 at 20:33:25 PM UTC

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Also (0.00 / 0)

Premo is the ONLY candidate of any party who is a lifetime resident of the district. His network is massive.

So my question is:

Would you rather have the Dem nominee have to rely solely on small donations? Or would you rather have a candidate who can nicely supplement his campaign while also receiving small donations?

I know which one I will be voting for.

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by: SaratogaDemocrat @ Sun Aug 17, 2008 at 20:36:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not to mention (0.00 / 0)

Of course, not to mention the small donations from district voters.

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by: SaratogaDemocrat @ Sun Aug 17, 2008 at 20:37:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]