Bill Thompson
Jan. 15 is an important date for everyone in this year’s race for mayor, but especially for Bill Thompson, the ex-comptroller and runner-up in the 2009 contest.
That’s the deadline for the disclosure of the last six months of fundraising for all candidates running for office. And Mr. Thompson, who has faced questions about his enthusiasm for the race, is lagging behind three leading Democratic contenders in donations.
For those participating in the city’s public financing system, there is a hard cap of what a candidate can spend in the Democratic primary of $6.426 million, of which a maximum of $3.534 million can come from the Campaign Finance Board’s matching funds program. As of July, Mr. Thompson had about $1 million in his campaign account, less than any of the three other presumed Democratic candidates.
Labor unions in particular will be paying close attention to Mr. Thompson’s totals on Jan. 15 to see whether his numbers lend credibility to his bid for office.
“Everyone else is on the path to maxing [contributions]. He needs to prove he is on that path as well,” said one labor source. “[Thompson's campaign] acknowledged that there was a ‘perception issue’ when it came to work ethic, and the way they chose to counter that was to talk about all his fundraisers this week. The number will tell the real tale.”
Another union insider added, “The thing we’re going to be looking at most of all is how does Thompson do, because there’s the biggest question.”
Mr. Thompson has faced criticism that he lacks the doggedness to mount a serious campaign ever since his lackluster 2009 mayoral campaign, when he nonetheless came within 4.5 points of ousting Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Recently, Mr. Thompson told The Wall Street Journal that “it’s not a question of fire in the belly” anymore.
Still, questions remain about his ability to keep pace with his rivals. In a race where Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Comptroller John Liu and Council Speaker Christine Quinn are all expected to raise and spend the maximum amounts, less money in Mr. Thompson’s coffers would mean less to spend on door-to-door operations, phone banks and other activities crucial in this year’s wide-open race for mayor.
“It’s going to raise serious doubts about his viability,” said one senior labor official. “He just may not have the resources to compete in a serious, crowded primary.”
A Thompson spokesman promised a “strong filing” next week.
“Bill Thompson has repeatedly demonstrated broad electoral support from all corners of New York City and has repeatedly raised the money needed to be competitive; 2013 will be no different,” said Eduardo Castell, a campaign adviser . “He will certainly have a strong filing next week and will have the resources to wage a robust campaign, and win.”
(Mr. Thompson’s fundraising report on Jan. 15 may also reflect the payment of nearly $600,000 in fines for illegal postering, which he vowed to pay last November.)
Ms. Quinn has a little over $5 million on-hand; Mr. Liu $1.8 million; and Mr. de Blasio $2.1 million. Former Councilman Sal Albanese, another Democratic candidate, has not reported any fundraising yet. The only Republican candidate to report his fundraising, Manhattan Media CEO Tom Allon, only has about $35,000.
All the candidates could face a shortened fundraising timeline. The city Board of Elections has requested that the state Legislature move the primary date to June from September. If that happens, all the candidates could lose three months of fundraising they might have been counting on.