Sean Patrick Maloney (Photo: Facebook)

Despite the criticism his field of rivals occasionally leveled at him before last Tuesday's Democratic primary, attorney Sean Patrick Maloney's defeated opponents are all rallying together to support his candidacy later this afternoon. Joining Mr. Maloney are Dr. Richard Becker, Mayors Matt Alexander and Tom Wilson, and Duane Jackson, as well as former congressmen Maurice Hinchey and John Hall.

"Tuesday was a big night, but we’ve got a tough road ahead of us and we need to come together if we are going to defeat Nan Hayworth," Mr. Maloney explained in an email to supporters last week.

During the primary, Mr. Becker and Mr. Alexander lobbed a number of hits against Mr. Maloney, repeatedly accusing the Manhattan lawyer of being a carpetbagger in the Hudson Valley-based congressional district. Although Mr. Alexander also blasted Mr. Maloney as a "Wall Street Democrat," Mr. Becker's campaign was particularly aggressive on the subject.

“Democrats can’t defeat Nan Hayworth with an ethically compromised Albany and Washington insider whose mailing address is in Manhattan," Mr. Becker's spokesman said as the primary campaign was coming to a close, blasting "his record of secrecy, failure, and unethical behavior" and saying his nomination would be a "disaster," for example.

But it seems that was all said in the context of a heated campaign and defeating Ms. Hayworth is their top priority now.

Nan Hayworth (Photo: Facebook)

GOP Congresswoman Nan Hayworth raised $290,000 in the last three months, a respectable sum but still less than one of her Democratic opponents, Sean Patrick Maloney, who announced he raised $320,000 himself within the same period, according to her recently filed FEC report.

However, she dwarfs Mr. Maloney in cash on hand, with over $1.2 million (he has $310,000), an advantage she is also sure to enjoy over Mr. Maloney's two main primary opponents, Dr. Rich Becker and Wappinger Falls Mayor Matt Alexander, as well.

Ms. Hayworth's race, set in the Hudson Valley, is one of the more prominent general election match-ups in New York this year, and groups like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are hoping to help make her a one-term Representative.

However, in addition to the size of her current campaign chest, Ms. Hayworth also has some other advantages. Notably, she didn't fair as badly in redistricting as most of her neighboring colleagues Upstate, seeing her district become only slightly more Democratic.

Ms. Hayworth also has the ability to finance her campaign with hundreds of thousands of additional dollars, as she did in 2010.

Rich Becker (Photo: Facebook)

Earlier this evening, Democratic congressional candidate Rich Becker challenged the fundraising of one of his primary challengers, Sean Patrick Maloney, by releasing three "questions" for Mr. Maloney, who announced he raised a solid $320,000 this afternoon.

Addressing Mr. Maloney by his first name, Mr. Becker's campaign spokesman Barry Caro wanted to know, "1) How much money did Sean raise from inside the 18th District? ... 2)  How much of Sean's money can actually be spent on the primary, versus the general election? ... 3) How much money is Sean's campaign spending on paid canvassers to get him on the ballot, and how much of that is in this report?"

A few of these questions have probable answers. For example, Mr. Maloney, whose announcement indicated he spent only about $10,000 so far on his campaign, probably hasn't spent gigantic sums to gather signatures -- or on anything else -- yet.

And, as Mr. Maloney lives in New York City and campaigned statewide for Attorney General in the past, it's reasonably likely that a good chunk of his fundraising came from outside the Hudson Valley Congressional District, a point Mr. Becker's campaign is clearly looking to highlight.

Mr. Caro also aggressively hinted Mr. Becker's own fundraising will be able to match Mr. Maloney's, stating, "Sean Maloney seems to be counting on a financial advantage in this race; if so, he's going to be in for a rude awakening later this week."

The full details of all of the campaigns' fundraising will be made clearer by April 15th, the federal filing deadline for the previous quarter.

Wappinger Falls Mayor Matt Alexander is also campaigning vigorously for the June 26th primary, the winner of which will earn the right to challenge GOP Rep. Nan Hayworth in the fall.

View Mr. Becker's full press release below:

Becker campaign spokesman Barry Caro issued the following statement on Sean Maloney's fundraising numbers:

Sean's press release today raises more questions than answers. Here are three that jump to mind.

1) How much money did Sean raise from inside the 18th District? That number will be a clear sign of how much support Sean is getting from Democrats in the district. By way of comparison, as of the last round of FEC filings Dr. Becker had raised 86% of his donations from Nan Hayworth's constituents.

2) How much of Sean's money can actually be spent on the primary, versus the general election?

3) How much money is Sean's campaign spending on paid canvassers to get him on the ballot, and how much of that is in this report? Our campaign has been overwhelmed with volunteers and has not had to spend any money on the petitioning process beyond the costs of printing and distributing petitions.

Sean Maloney seems to be counting on a financial advantage in this race; if so, he's going to be in for a rude awakening later this week.

Sean Patrick Maloney (Photo: Patrick McMullan)

Sean Patrick Maloney, an attorney and former aide in Governor Eliot Spitzer's administration, announced that his congressional campaign has pulled in a very solid $320,000 in a statement from earlier this morning.

Mr. Maloney's total is made more notable by his relatively late entry in the race and his low burn rate -- his campaign has $310,000 on hand as he moves forward to the June 26th primary, the winner of which will battle Hudson Valley Rep. Nan Hayworth in the general election.

“These numbers prove that strong enthusiasm and momentum are with my candidacy,” Mr. Maloney said in the release. “We're going to have the resources to hold the Congresswoman accountable for voting to end Medicare as we know it."

Mr. Maloney has many Democratic opponents, but the field notably includes Dr. Rich Becker and Wappinger Falls Mayor Matt Alexander.

Rich Becker (Photo: Facebook)

Earlier this morning, Democratic congressional candidate Rich Becker attacked a recent interview Republican Nan Hayworth gave to Politico where she said "she’s tried to find a balance between doing what’s right for the country and doing what’s right for folks back home."

According to Mr. Becker's campaign, this means she's "having trouble 'find[ing] a balance between' what the 'tea party Republicans [who've] embraced her' want and 'what’s right for folks back home,'" and a statement from Mr. Becker himself indicated his displeasure at the comments.

"Admitting that you have a problem is half the battle, so I'm glad that Hayworth fessed up to the fact that her Tea Party ideology isn't really compatible with the Hudson Valley," he said. "This isn't 2010 when Hayworth could claim to be a moderate in public while aggressively and successfully courting extreme Tea Party organizations behind the scenes. Hayworth's been showing her true colors on the House floor in vote after vote. She has a record of out-of-touch extremism now, and we're not going to let her run away from that history."

Ms. Hayworth's "find a balance" comment came in response to response to a question about an article in this publication where Mr. Becker said she had "plenty of chutzpah" for claiming to be a moderate, and today's press release from Mr. Becker represents a continued effort to brand Ms. Hayworth with Tea Party flavor.

Mr. Becker is competing in the Democratic primary against a slew of candidates, notably attorney Sean Patrick Maloney and Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander.

The Politico article, which focused on the reelection challenges of various Republican freshmen in the House, also featured Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm.

“I am humbled to have the solid backing of yet another Democratic Committee in Westchester and look forward to working with them to make Nan Hayworth a one term Congresswoman,” said Mr. Alexander.  “Let’s keep the momentum going.”

The North Salem Democratic Committee endorsed Mr.  Alexander this week for Congress. The Lewisboro committee endorsed him last week, as did his home county's Democratic organization in Dutchess.

The winner of the race will take on incumbent Republican Nan Hayworth.

Mr. Alexander has made it a habit of pointing out the geography of the district. After the Congressional lines were redrawn, Mr. Becker found himself living outside the district.

"Matt Alexander has been the mayor of Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County for 5 years. A graduate of Cornwall High School, he has lived within the new boundaries of the 18th District for 31 years, in Dutchess and Orange Counties," his release states.  "Of his Primary Election opponents, two live in Westchester County outside the district, one lives outside the district in New York City, and one is the mayor of the gated village of Tuxedo Park. "

Matt Alexander (Photo: Facebook)

Successive press releases late last night announced the Dutchess County Democratic Party's endorsement of Julian Schreibman as their candidate against Congressman Chris Gibson, Justin Wagner against State Senator Greg Ball, and Matt Alexander against Congresswoman Nan Hayworth. However, it is Mr. Alexander who is facing the most competitive race of the three and whose endorsement stands out.

Mr. Alexander, the mayor of Wappingers Falls, dropped some Occupy Wall Street-esque rhetoric in his statement touting the backing.

"I am in this race to fight for the 99%, and that is a particularly important agenda for the folks living in the cities, towns and villages of our new district, each of which face unique challenges," he said. "We need a new urban agenda for economic development in the Hudson Valley's cities, and we need a new representative in Washington to deliver it."

According to release, the final breakdown between the candidates in the weighted vote was:

Matt Alexander: 8,739.0 (90.0%)
Sean P. Maloney: 528.0 (5.4%)
Rich Becker: 309.5 (3.2%)
Duane Jackson: 80.5 (1%)
Tom Wilson: 45.5 (<1%)

(The statement said union activist Anne Jacobs Moultrie had dropped out).

Dutchess County is split between two Congressional Districts under the new restricting plan but has a substantial presence in Ms. Hayworth's new seat. Orange County, the largest in the district, previously saw its Democratic Party endorse Mr. Becker.

The City of Poughkeepsie's Democratic Committee also got behind Mr. Alexander for the June 26th primary last night.

Sean Patrick Maloney (Photo: Facebook)

In what may shake up the race against Hudson Valley Congresswoman Nan Hayworth, attorney Sean Patrick Maloney announced he was entering the Democratic field yesterday afternoon. Mr. Maloney was also a candidate for Attorney General in 2006 and an aide to former Governor Eliot Spitzer.

"I am running for the United States Congress in 2012 against Tea Party favorite Nan Hayworth in the brand new NY-18 District," he wrote to supporters. "You believed in me and helped me in my first race for public office several years ago, proving that we have the organizational and fundraising strength necessary to take up this fight – and win."

Mr. Maloney was previously possible a candidate for retiring Congressman Maurice Hinchey's district, where he owns a summer home in Sullivan County. However, in the new court-drawn map, Sullivan County is moved from Mr. Hinchey's disappearing district to neighboring Congressman Chris Gibson's.

This fact has not gone unnoticed by at least one of Mr. Maloney's Democratic competitors. Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander's campaign blasted out a statement yesterday taking the hammer to Mr. Maloney's Manhattan residence.

"The district's families don't need another Manhattan Democrat propelled by ambition and money to fly into their district with a cape, with no knowledge of its people or the unique problems they face," his campaign manager, TJ Helmstetter wrote.

"And frankly, a Wall Street Democrat will not be able to draw the necessary contrasts with Nan Hayworth to win. Matt Alexander is the right candidate to run and win in the 18th district," he added.

However, Mr. Maloney and Mr. Alexander do not have the field to themselves. Cortlandt Councilman Dr. Rich Becker is another prominent candidate in the Democratic primary, which also contains Tuxedo Park Mayor Tom Wilson, Anne Jacobs Moultrie, a retired union leader, and Duane Jackson, a vendor who helped thwart a Times Square bomb threat.

The primary is June 26th.

View Mr. Maloney's full email to supporters below:

Dear :

I am running for the United States Congress in 2012 against Tea Party favorite Nan Hayworth in the brand new NY-18 District. You believed in me and helped me in my first race for public office several years ago, proving that we have the organizational and fundraising strength necessary to take up this fight – and win. If you still believe in me, and you believe, like I do, that we must have new leadership in Congress, than I need your help again – and right away.

PLEASE CLICK HERE and you can help right now.

Why Run for Congress? I am running because there is an urgent need to take back our Congress from the Tea Party extremists like Hayworth who have turned government into a bitter game of ideological warfare; who can’t compromise or negotiate; who reject smart investments in education and infrastructure; who reject sensible tax policies that create jobs and balance budgets; who would end Medicare as we know it; and take us back decades to a world where women are denied access to contraception coverage, where the environment is under siege, and where LGBT people are second-class citizens. That is not the America we know and cherish.

In the face of this assault on our values, we cannot be silent or idle. We must find the courage to fight to set things right. The problems we face are made by people, and, working together, we can solve them. A truly great country is well within our grasp -- where a thriving, diverse and prosperous middle class grows in strength by expanding opportunity, respecting one another, and meeting our responsibilities to our children. I believe the time has come for a new generation of progressive leaders to fight to rebuild our country, and that’s why I’m running for Congress.

How Can You Help? For the last few weeks, we have been quietly but aggressively preparing for the opportunity that has now come into focus. Specifically, we raised $225,000 (cash on hand), spent next to nothing, and lined up the State’s best political team. Our strategy was to be prepared to rocket off the starting line when the gun fired – and now it has. But we are just getting started, and I need your help. Here are 3 specific ways you can help us keep the momentum going so that we can win the June 26 primary and defeat Nan Hayworth:

• Help me raise another $200,000 this month to build our war chest, hire staff and get online -- Donate here;

• Sign up to volunteer (starting next week!) to get my name on the ballot – Click here;

• Host an event to introduce me to your networks – Click here.

With your help, there is nothing we can’t do. Let’s win this race together!

Sincerely,

Sean

Matt Alexander (Photo: Facebook)

Democratic Congressman Barney Frank, a nationally recognizable liberal and former Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, is fundraising for one of Republican Congresswoman Nan Hayworth's opponents, Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander.

Congressman Frank is joined at the fundraiser by New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, another high-ranking member of the Financial Services Committee. Interestingly, Congresswoman Hayworth is also a member of this committee. 

Mr. Alexander does not have the Democratic primary all to himself, however. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee previously signaled some small level of support for another candidate, Rich Becker, who's a Westchester County lawmaker and a cardiologist. But that was before Mr. Alexander entered the race.

Representative Hayworth won her Hudson Valley seat by unseating a Democratic incumbent in the last election, a win Democrats are hoping to reverse.

View the fundraising invitation:

Matt Alexander (Photo: FriendsOfMattAlexander.com)

Earlier today, Rich Becker, a Democrat hoping to unseat Congresswoman Nan Hayworth in the 19th District next year, blasted her rejection of the payroll tax bill passed by the Senate as "extremism at its ugliest." Now, Matt Alexander, Mr. Becker's challenger in the Democratic primary, is joining in on the pileup. In an email sent to supporters, Mr. Alexander accused Congresswoman Hayworth of looking out for the interests of businesses rather than middle class families.

"You might have heard that the Senate passed a bipartisan deal to extend the payroll tax cut for middle class workers. This is a smart move, designed to help working families in a struggling economy. But the Tea Party members in the House, including Nan Hayworth, moved to block this sensible tax cut over the weekend," Mr. Alexander wrote. "Even some of her Republican colleagues called the Boehner-Hayworth move 'irresponsible,' 'wrong,' and 'jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of Americans.'"

Mr. Alexander, who is mayor of the village of Wappingers Falls, criticized Congresswoman Hayworth's desire to remove "regulatory burdens" on businesses as "muddled."

"Here's the thing," Mr. Alexander wrote. "Rep. Hayworth is talking about the regulatory burdens for business, but what about the burdens for working families and the middle class trying to make ends meet?"

Mr. Alexander's email ended with a request for donations.

"We can't let Rep. Hayworth's inaction stand in the way of much needed tax cuts and middle-class relief for the next year, let alone the next Congress," he wrote.