WASHINGTON — Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel and his chief rival, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, are running neck-and-neck in the race for campaign contributions.
Rangel raked in $272,000 in the first quarter of the year, while Espaillat wasn’t far behind, with $230,000, according to figures the campaigns released Tuesday.
The two Democrats also reported nearly identical amounts of cash left in their war chests.
Rangel had $223,000 on hand; Espaillat was sitting on $220,000.
It’s the latest sign that Rangel, a 22-term incumbent, is locked in one of the toughest election contests of his career.
Espaillat boasted that his haul came from nearly 400 individual donors, with 46 percent of the total donations being $100 or less.
“I am proud of what we have been able to raise in such a short period of time,” said Espaillat, adding that it reflected a “broad coalition of support.”
A third candidate, Pastor Michael Walrond — an ally of the Rev. Al Sharpton — raised $63,000 in the last quarter and has $74,000 in the bank.