The Hill: Kanjorski had four in-district donors in fourth quarter
February 5thRep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) had a Chris Dodd-like fourth quarter.
Dodd drew heat in early 2009 for raising money from just five Connecticut donors in a quarter in which he rasied about $1 million.
According to his FEC report, Kanjorski raised $233,000 in the fourth quarter but took contributions from just four donors in his home district.
Only $6,300 of Kanjorski’s total came from donors in Pennsylvania’s 11th district. And of the four home-district donors, two of them came from a married couple – Joseph and Rose Mattioli, who run the local Pocono Raceway.
He did get money from a pair of political action committees in the district – Pride Mobility Products and the Blue Cross Voice PAC.
Kanjorski spokesman Ed Mitchell said the incumbent didn’t want to take money that might otherwise go to local Democratic candidates.
“It puts a burden on our population, which has a lower income threshold than a lot of other areas,” Mitchell said. “But we have some major events scheduled in the next few weeks, and I think our future FEC reports will reflect a lot more local involvement in the campaign.”
Kanjorski did get plenty of donations from donors outside his district but inside the state of Pennsylvania. Slightly more than half of his total receipts came from individual donors.
He faces a primary challenge from Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien, who raised $180,000 in the quarter and is gathering steam.
The winner will likely face Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta (R), who fell to Kanjorski by four points in 2008.
