Addabbo Gets a Boost, Still Lags in Funds

Queens election-watcher David M. Quintana reports that Joseph Addabbo got the endorsement of the DC 37 Retirees (membership > 50,000) for the 15th District State Senate seat. He doesn't need it for the primary -- his only opponent for the nomination, Albert Baldeo, who almost won this seat in 2006, pulled out last week.

Baldeo had challenged Addabbo's petition this year and had about three times as much in campaign funds as Addabbo when he quit, so we may assume that the Queens Democratic Party made a convincing case that it was Addabbo's turn.

The Retirees' backing, and anything else Addabbo can get his hands on, will be needed in the general election, in which he will face 10-term incumbent Seraphin Maltese. Since his last election, the Friends of Seraphin Maltese has received $615,645 in contributions, including $220,000 from the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee, $6,000 from Silvercup Studios Associates, and $4,000 from 1199 SEIU. Addabbo for Senate has taken in a little more than a third of that.