Profile
Photos
Comments
Mayor Bloomberg spends close to $1M a day in re-election push: At this pace
$95M by election day
Friday, October 23rd 2009, 6:30 PM
Noonan for News
If Bloomberg keeps
spending at his current pace - almost $20.4 million over the last 25 days - he
will have spent almost $95 million by Election Day.
Mayor Bloomberg is spending almost $1 million a
day to try to keep his job for another term - shattering even his own records
for pouring money into the race.
New spending figures released Friday showed he has spent almost $85.2 million
of his personal fortune on this year's campaign, with 11 days still to go until
Election Day.
That's more than the $84.6 million he spent in 2005 or the $74 million he
spent in 2001, when he was a little-known Democrat-turned-Republican in his
first run for office.
Bloomberg can afford it - his personal fortune was last estimated at $17.5
billion - and campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson said they aren't worried about the
final price tag.
"We are not going to spend a dime more than we have to," Wolfson said. "We
are going to spend what we need to in order to be successful in this election.
That's the goal."
If Bloomberg keeps spending at his current pace - almost $20.4 million over
the last 25 days - he will have spent almost $95 million by Election Day.
But he is likely to ramp up the cash even more in the final days, pushing his
total spending above $100 million.
Much of Bloomberg's spending to date has gone for TV ads, mailings, phone
banks and polls - but records show he spent thousands on perks like car service
for his staff and deli meals for volunteers.
A Quinnipiac University poll in August found 59% of
New Yorkers said the mayor's spending was overkill.
His challenger, Controller William Thompson, frequently claims the
mayor is trying to buy New Yorkers' votes.
Thompson's spending figure was not yet available, but his campaign said he
raised $270,000 in the last three weeks - which they expect will qualify him for
matching funds to bring the period's haul up to $1 million.
That's half the $536,645 raised by Bloomberg challenger Mark GreenFernando Ferrer raised in the same period in
2005. during the same time period in the 2001
election, or the $676,874 challenger
"Another poor performance by Mr. Thompson," Wolfson sniffed.
Thompson spokesman Mike Murphy, however, said Thompson collected that
money from more than 3,000 contributors in three weeks - far more than Ferrer's
1,878 donors or Green's 379 donors, showing strong grassroots support.
"It's small donors - it's people reaching out," said Thompson spokesman Mike
Murphy. "There is a feeling out there. People are getting excited about
this."
RECENT COMMENTS FROM DAILY NEWS READERS
ROMULUS
6:09:53 AM
Oct 24, 2009
Some Nerve! Remember how in 2001 many people wanted Rudy G. to stay on for a
partial or full 3rd term, but was declined? What is so quint-essential about
Bloomberg that would justify another term, not counting his personal wealth or
religion?
Report Offensive primadonna
6:13:07 AM
Oct 24, 2009
@Bacala: I suspect Harvey101 may be Bloomberg himself. I don't even think
Bloomberg's own mother defends him as much.
Mark Simeone
6:25:26 AM
Oct 24, 2009
Mike loves this city. He loves it so much and cares about all of us so
deeply, we can actually measure it in paper dollars. Why doesn't his opponent
see this? Why does his opponent even contemplate this office, doesn't he see how
little he comes to the table with, including paper dollars? 'Progress/Politics'
nonsense. Mike/Loves Us is more fitting. Don't be mad or angry with Mike over
this, be content and happy and vote for him again and again and again and
hopefully again.
Guility
7:39:43 AM
Oct 24, 2009
Well... Simeone, NARCISSISM is NOT the love of others... lol. The 16th
RICHEST person in the WORLD, of 6.5 Billion is spending $100 million of his OWN
money to obtain re-election, which he BENT the existing laws to also obtain. ALL
this in the SERVICE of the people of NY??? Not a chance! It's all about SELF
LOVE! The $100 million is parable to you or me stopping for a hot dog on the
corner to him. Chump change! If he was so committed to the people of NY why
wouldn't he donate the $100 million to the people and bow out of the race! Wait,
once he's done here he will definitely go for another office, Governor
anyone?!?! Election laws need to be addressed concerning the use of personal
funds, or we will be nothing but a flock of sheep led by the elite. Ooooops,
seems we already are!
Guility
7:49:28 AM
Oct 24, 2009
There is NO WAY a man who is willing to spend $100 million of his own money
or that of others can relate to my meager existence in any way, shape or form.
Taking the subway, flanked by security for a quick ride with the masses doesn't
mean he can relate either. He has aligned and related first and foremost with
the elite and has made it very clear that they are the heart of NY. Where is he
with all the Wall Street scandal, Banking, etc.? Nuff said there. What about the
RIDICULOUS situation at Ground Zero? Schools??? Don't even go there... a
FAILURE! Anyway, be happy if you can garner a mere 3% raise from him... Look at
his staggering EARNINGS and tell me HE CAN RELATE to you and I. Not a chance!
GOOD RIDDANCE!
nyawker
8:02:28 AM
Oct 24, 2009
Bloomberg and his $17 billion dollars is a "disgrace!"
https://gothamist.com/2009/05/28/mayor_bloomberg_avoids_question_cal.php
Jinxed007
9:06:52 AM
Oct 24, 2009
What a bunch of rubes we must seem to the elite. However, if it walks like a
duck and quacks like a duck... I guess their opinion isn't too far off the
mark.
arthurg
9:34:22 AM
Oct 24, 2009
Bloomberg bought New York twice. Are you going to let him do it again? Does
anyone actually believe he deserves a 3rd term? What has he accomplished after
two terms in office? Two boondoggle baseball stadiums --- and he wanted to build
a 3rd stadium on the West Side! Meanwhile: still no 2nd Avenue subway! The
middle class is being squeezed by continuous rent increases and property tax
increases. The poor? Who? And after 8 years, there is still no World Trade
Center! He's so hoity-toity that he won't even deign to live in the official
residence provided for the Mayor. He winks at Guiliani's outrageous lies.
(Guiliani forgot to mention that Dinkins had the same Police Commissioner that
Bloomberg has now!) I say: send him to Bermuda! (Permanently, not just for a
weekend jaunt.) Oh, if he can't speak Spanish properly, he shouldn't be trying
to speak it in public. Does he really think he is impressing anyone with this
stunt?
melloca
10:03:35 AM
Oct 24, 2009
When MADOFF Gloomberg g ets re-elected he is going to order that senior
citizen center closed because their is no more money. Those seniors will be
crying and they will have voted for his re-election. It's a shame that the
people of NYC have their heads up their arse when they vote for MADOFF
Gloomberg. He is going to continue to make NYC like Detroit when he drives the
working class people to move out of NYC because they can't afford to live in
NYC.
edm40
10:51:21 AM
Oct 24, 2009
WHATS HIDING UNDER THIS POSITION THAT THESE POLITICIANS WANT IT SO BAD. IF
YOU DON'T KNOW YOU BETTER WAKE UP. '' IT'S ALL ABOUT MOMEY, MONEY ''
Read more: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/election_2009/2009/10/23/2009-10-23_mayor_bloomberg_spends_close_to_1m_a_day_in_.html#ixzz0UrzcAxHJ