Metro

Campaign is ‘Liu’$ing momentum

The federal investigation into his fund-raising practices finally got to embattled city Comptroller John Liu

Liu, who is formally announcing his candidacy for mayor tomorrow, reported taking in just $105,775 for his campaign over the last two months. That’s a fifth as much as front-runner Christine Quinn and less than the $164,053 that unknown long shot Erik Salgado got.

“You’d expect an incumbent comptroller to be doing better,” said veteran political consultant Joe Mercurio. “I would imagine the federal investigation is dragging him a little.”

Since Liu spent $93,869 for the period, his net take was a puny $11,906.

Liu’s former campaign treasurer and a campaign contributor go on trial next month on federal charges of using straw donors to make illegal donations that taxpayers would later match.

Despite his troubles,The comptroller remains a factor in the race; he still has $2 million on hand and could collect another $3.4 million from $568,515 in other matching funds.The other major Democratic mayoral contenders all raised far more than Liu. Quinn, the City Council Speaker, took in $501,000. Former Comptroller Bill Thompson nabbed $340,000 and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio hauled in $267,000.

dseifman@nypost.com