When gearing up to do battle with a financial juggernaut like Mayor Mike Bloomberg, how can a humble civil servant fill his war chest? Recent reports suggest that Rep. Anthony Weiner and City Comptroller Bill Thompson have turned to the tried-and-true methods of earmarks and lobbyists.
Thompson has hauled in $83,000 in campaign contributions from lobbyists this year and nearly $400,000 over the past decade, reported the New York Post.
"This sounds like some opposition research that someone's feeding you," Thompson campaign manager Eddie Castel told the Post. "Bill Thompson has never looked at who's contributing to him," and it hasn't affected his job, he added.
Weiner this year has steered $238,000 in taxpayer dollars toward the Sephardic Addiction and Family Education (SAFE) Foundation of Brooklyn, reported the New York Daily News. Four of SAFE's directors, along with their friends and family, have in turn donated more than $160,000 -- including $100,000 for this year's mayoral race -- to Weiner's campaign coffers.
Bloomberg, who will likely face one of the two -- as well as Reverend Billy of The Life After Shopping Church -- in this fall's mayoral election, took the high road in response to questions about Weiner's relationship with SAFE, reported the Daily News.
"He is a competent congressman, and he's worked very hard for the city," said Bloomberg. "If Anthony Weiner can get more for the city, if it's going to be given out anyways, I'm glad he's doing it."
Weiner spokesman John Collins said he "appreciates" Bloomberg's magnanimity, saying it is "almost slander to imply" wrongdoing.
