Senate Republican and Democratic campaigns have poured a combined $1.19 million into the battle for the 48th District — and arguably, the majority.
The state Senate Republican Campaign Committee has sent $658,450 to its candidate, David A. Renzi, finance disclosure reports show. The committee has spent an additional $299,679 on his behalf.
Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, has received $101,000 from the state Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. The committee also has spent $131,457 on his behalf and provided $3,799.34 of in-kind help.
Bolstered by state help, Mr. Renzi outraised and outspent his opponent 5-to-1 during the reporting period, which was July 17 to Friday.
Senate Republicans are trying to reclaim a seat they owned for a century and extend the 31-30 majority they hold.
Mr. Renzi, who spent $684,663 during the period, paid $600,285 of that amount to Scott Howell & Co. LLP, Alexandria, Va., to produce television ads and buy airtime. The ads apparently are being paid for by the Senate Republican committee, because its transfers to Mr. Renzi's account match his payments to Mr. Howell's company.
Mr. Renzi, Watertown, also paid $22,937 for mailer costs and $18,000 to Lee K. Daghlian for consulting work. Mr. Daghlian, now of Mullin Street, retired in June from the state Board of Elections, where he was spokesman.
Mr. Aubertine, who spent $126,564.82 during the period, used all of the state Democratic money to pay GSG Communications, New York, to buy airtime for his television ad. He paid $5,500 to A-Political, the outfit of New York City ad man Jimmy Siegel, to produce the spot.
Although Mr. Renzi had several local donors, his top five contributors all live south of the Bronx.
Leonard Litwin, New Hyde Park, gave $6,500, while Burton Resnick, New York City, sent $4,000. Michael Schmelzer, Great Neck, contributed $3,600 and F.J. Fusco, Sarasota, Fla., sent $2,000. Michael Kerr, Woodsburgh, gave $1,500.
Roger J. Sharlow, Mr. Aubertine's top individual donor, lives in Waddington. He gave $1,000. Richard C. Howland, Baldwinsville, sent $500, good for second highest individual donation.
Mr. Aubertine's out-of-area support came from politicians. Sen. Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx, who financially supported the Cape Vincent resident during the special election, sent $5,000 from his campaign account. Sen. Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, sent $2,000.
In total, the Democrat received $16,235 from political action committees and other politicians.
Mr. Renzi took in $56,065 from the same group. He received $9,500 from four groups: the campaign accounts of Sen. Dean G. Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, and former Sen. Joseph L. Bruno, R-Brunswick, the Empire Leadership Council, Albany, and the political action committee of the Rent Stabilization Association, New York City.
The Empire Leadership Council is a 527 group. The rent association bills itself as the "largest trade association in New York City, representing 25,000 property owners/agents responsible for approximately 1 million units of housing."
As of Friday, Mr. Aubertine had a balance of $45,084. Mr. Renzi had $24,249 remaining.