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With only a few weeks left before the Nov. 6 election, Rep. William L. Owens holds a significant fundraising advantage over his opponent, Matthew A. Doheny.
Mr. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, raised $424,699 from July to September, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission, leaving him with $770,032 to spend on the last stretch of the campaign. Mr. Doheny, a Watertown Republican, raised $162,301. He also lent his campaign $300,000, leaving him with $268,968.
The election is Nov. 6.
Congressman Owens is grateful for and encouraged by the support hes received in this campaign from across the district, said Owens spokesman Jonathan P. Boughtin in an email message. Todays fundraising numbers are another sign that voters are responding to the contrast between Bills record of helping to create jobs in his community and Matt Dohenys career on Wall Street.
Said Jude R. Seymour, Mr. Dohenys spokesman, in an email message: The Doheny campaign has the resources necessary to get our message of creating jobs and reducing the debt out to voters. While Bill Owens runs down to New York to raise money from special interests to spread his campaign of lies and distortion, Matt Doheny is out meeting every voter he possibly can.
If the campaigns jabbing statements are any indication, election season is in full swing. And when it comes to their campaign funds, Mr. Owens has the clear advantage, an advantage that often compounds. Good fundraising numbers confer legitimacy, which can lead to more good fundraising numbers.
But cash in the north countrys congressional race doesnt end in their respective bank accounts. Outside groups are also spending heavily in the race, which could help Mr. Doheny make up the disadvantage.
According to the Sunlight Foundation, outside groups such as the National Republican Congressional Campaign have spent $1.3 million to oppose Mr. Owens in this election cycle. Similar groups on the left have spent $288,884 against Mr. Doheny.
But if the trend stays the same, the campaign finance script would be flipped from 2010. Mr. Doheny outspent Mr. Owens nearly 2-to-1 in that race, but outside groups helped Mr. Owens keep pace by spending nearly $1 million against Mr. Doheny.
Mr. Doheny also lent money to his unsuccessful effort in 2010. He spent $2.3 million on that effort that wont be paid back.
The loans this year were made in late September, about a week after a Siena College Research Institute poll showed Mr. Owens leading Mr. Doheny by 13 points in the race. The amount Mr. Doheny raised is in the neighborhood of his previous reports, except for the first one, in which he raised more than $300,000. The majority of those donors were maxed out.
Slightly more than half of Mr. Owenss money came from political action committees.
More than two-thirds of Mr. Dohenys money, meanwhile, came from individuals, not counting his personal loan.
That is in keeping with previous campaign finance disclosures.