Ferrer Campaign Starved for Cash
A story in today's New York Times asserts that the free spenders that typically donate to the Democratic nominee have yet to show up with support for Fernando Ferrer. Since Ferrer won the primary on September 13th, his campaign has raised only $232,000, though another $316,000 in matching funds from the city's Campaign Finance Board is expected.
The article continues to state that many people who backed Ferrer with funds in 2001 have yet to put money into the pot for 2005. These names include top real estate developers and wealthy Democrats who have thrown their support behind Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
Such a drought in funds for Ferrer's campaign have left its operations anemic. For instance, many of its television ads have been shortened to 15 seconds, from 30. Meanwhile, some prominent Democrats from Howard Dean (who is now heading the Democratic Party) to John Edwards to Hillary Clinton have begun to raise awareness of Ferrer and try to send funds his way. However, unless the funds come through on a halfway decent level, the campaign will be handcuffed by its limited funds throughout the remaining weeks until the election.
There is a theory I'd like to throw out there as to why Ferrer is finding himself feeling nothing but lint in his pockets:
He isn't cutting it as a candidate.
He has failed to excite the Democrats in the city. Democrats are now finding their ways into the welcoming arms of the Bloomberg campaign. They may not be completely enthusiastic about the mayor but they are certainly preferring Bloomberg to Ferrer. Bloomberg's mostly moderate-to-liberal stances have attracted the support of numerous Democrats, most recently, former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone and current Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr.
In addition, Ferrer manages to turn away voters even if they agree with him. Without the financial backing, Ferrer cannot realistically sway Democrats back into the fold. And yet, without people believing in him, he cannot get financial backing. Mr. Ferrer finds himself in an interesting hole.
He will have to have a major turnout from his Democrat allies to gain such funding. But for many people, Ferrer is no longer an option.
The article continues to state that many people who backed Ferrer with funds in 2001 have yet to put money into the pot for 2005. These names include top real estate developers and wealthy Democrats who have thrown their support behind Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
Such a drought in funds for Ferrer's campaign have left its operations anemic. For instance, many of its television ads have been shortened to 15 seconds, from 30. Meanwhile, some prominent Democrats from Howard Dean (who is now heading the Democratic Party) to John Edwards to Hillary Clinton have begun to raise awareness of Ferrer and try to send funds his way. However, unless the funds come through on a halfway decent level, the campaign will be handcuffed by its limited funds throughout the remaining weeks until the election.
There is a theory I'd like to throw out there as to why Ferrer is finding himself feeling nothing but lint in his pockets:
He isn't cutting it as a candidate.
He has failed to excite the Democrats in the city. Democrats are now finding their ways into the welcoming arms of the Bloomberg campaign. They may not be completely enthusiastic about the mayor but they are certainly preferring Bloomberg to Ferrer. Bloomberg's mostly moderate-to-liberal stances have attracted the support of numerous Democrats, most recently, former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone and current Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr.
In addition, Ferrer manages to turn away voters even if they agree with him. Without the financial backing, Ferrer cannot realistically sway Democrats back into the fold. And yet, without people believing in him, he cannot get financial backing. Mr. Ferrer finds himself in an interesting hole.
He will have to have a major turnout from his Democrat allies to gain such funding. But for many people, Ferrer is no longer an option.
posted by Will at 3:20 PM
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