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Cobb outraises Stefanik in first half of Oct.

Stefanik still has twice as much

Democratic Congressional candidate Tedra Cobb talks with Enterprise staff at the newspaper’s office in Saranac Lake Sept. 6 about her campaign’s differences from opponent, incumbent Republican Elise Stefanik. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)

Democrat Tedra Cobb outraised incumbent Rep. Elise Stefanik in the first half of October, according to the last filings from the Federal Election Commission.

Cobb, of Canton, received $145,000 in the period from Oct. 1 through Oct. 17 compared with $116,000 for Stefanik, R-Willsboro, who is seeking her third two-year term.

Cobb collected about 64 percent of her donations from inside New York’s 21st Congressional District. About 47 percent were $100 or less, according to an analysis of the FEC documents.

Cobb did not collect any money from corporate political action committees. She accepted $1,000 from Friends of Kathy Hochul, which is a PAC set up by the lieutenant governor. Cobb also received $1,200 from the campaign of Tanya Boone, who dropped out of the NY-21 race in February.

Stefanik received 59 percent of her contributions from outside the district, and 82 percent were greater than $100. Stefanik received nearly $54,000 from political action committees.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik speaks with the Enterprise editorial board Oct. 5, 2018, at the newspaper’s Saranac Lake office. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

The Cobb campaign seized on that fact. Stefanik received $5,000 from U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe’s Fund for a Conservative Future PAC. Inhofe, R-Okla., has claimed climate change is a hoax.

Stefanik also has taken $5,400 from the Berexco family, which has oil and gas interests in Kansas, as well as $2,500 from Amgen, which is a pharmaceutical company that has been investigated for promoting off-label drugs for patients with cancer and anemia, and hiding negative research data, according to a news release.

“I’m not taking a dime of corporate money,” Cobb said in a news release. “The difference in our donors is clear. She works for corporate special interests, I will work only for you.”

Stefanik has raised twice as much this overall campaign season — $2.66 million compared with $1.31 million for Cobb.

When asked to comment on the fundraising report, Stefanik campaign spokesman Lenny Alcivar pointed to the fact that Stefanik also had $1.26 million worth of cash on hand as of Oct. 1 compared with $232,000 for Cobb.

“The Stefanik campaign looks forward to winning on Election Day,” he said.

Cobb has spent about $466,000 during this period — about $328,000 on a media advertising blitz.

Stefanik has spent $201,000, including about $171,000 in advertising.

Green Party candidate Lynn Kahn did not file a report, which is only required if candidates receive at least $5,000 in donations or make $5,000 worth of expenses.

NY-21 candidate fundraising for Oct. 1-17

Rep. Elise Stefanik (Republican)

¯ Cash at the beginning of the month: $1,345,000

¯ Contributions received: $116,000

¯ Expenses incurred: $201,000

¯ Cash in bank as of Oct. 17: $1,260,000

Tedra Cobb (Democratic)

¯ Cash at the beginning of the month: $554,000

¯ Contributions received: $145,000

¯ Expenses incurred: $466,000

¯ Cash in bank as of Oct. 17: $232,000

Lynn Kahn (Green)

¯ Candidate did not file report

Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand

(Source: Federal Election Commission)

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