When it comes to fund-raising, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is at the head of the pack among Democrats vying to replace Mayor Bloomberg, according to figures released yesterday by all but one of the possible candidates.
Quinn raised $1.32 million in the past six months, bringing her cash on hand to $4 million in what is expected to be a crowded Democratic primary in 2013, her aides said.
The Manhattan Democrat blew away her likely competitors, though city Comptroller John Liu — a proven powerhouse fund-raiser — did not release his figures.
Fund-raising totals are due at the city Campaign Finance Board Friday at midnight.
Second to Quinn for the six-month filing period is Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, whose staff said he pulled in $675,000. He has raised just over $1 million since he started gearing up for what is expected to be a mayoral bid.
De Blasio’s staff could not say how much of that he has spent so far and how much remains as cash on hand.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer took in $655,000 this period and has $2.5 million to spend, a source close to him reported.
Bringing up the rear is former city comptroller and 2009 mayoral nominee Bill Thompson, who has officially declared his intention to run again.
A Thompson source said he took in $250,000, but pointed out that he began fund-raising only two months ago. His account has $300,000, with $50,000 transferred from his 2009 mayoral bid.
Thompson made an impressive showing against the self-funded billionaire mayor two years ago, coming within five points in a race most expected to be a blowout by Bloomberg.
Quinn’s political consultant, Josh Isay, attributed her bank account to a successful political run and her role in helping negotiate a city budget that didn’t include many of the painful cuts and layoffs of teachers as Bloomberg had first proposed.
“In the last month, Chris Quinn helped pass marriage equality, saved thousands of teacher jobs, stopped 20 firehouses from being closed and now had her best fund-raising period ever. She’s on a roll,” Isay said.
But all the fund-raising totals pale in comparison to one Democrat who was the top contender until last month — Anthony Weiner, who resigned his seat in Congress amid scandal and is no longer considered a viable mayoral candidate.
Before he was publicly disgraced, Weiner had a $4.5 million war chest as of January’s filing date.
The contributions reported so far don’t include funds expected from the city’s Campaign Finance Board, which provides a 6-to-1 match for individual donations up to $175 from city residents. Candidates must agree to abide by strict spending limits to get the funds.
All the Democrats named as possible candidates so far are expected to participate in the campaign-finance program.