One week from today, voters in New York’s 26th Congressional District will elect a new representative to replace a very married congressman who resigned in February after he had trouble keeping on his shirt — and, by his own acknowledgment, pants.

And in the past seven days, outside groups have shelled out more than $1.2 million on political messages in district in western New York touting their preferred candidates and criticizing their opponents, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Money spent by conservative interests account for about two-thirds of this sum, which is all but assured to increase significantly between now and Election Day.

So far three super PACs — groups that can accept unlimited contributions from corporations, unions and individuals — have reported significant investments in the three-way race between Republican Jane Corwin, Democrat Kathy Hochul and Democrat-turned-Tea Party candidate Jack Davis.

So have two traditional PACs — which rely on contributions of $5,000 or less to fund their expenditures and cannot take money from corporate or union general treasuries — as well as both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The spending by these outside groups breaks down as follows:

$424,680 by the NRCC for “survey research” and media advertising buys

$368,886 by the conservative super PAC American Crossroads for television and online media advertising

$266,745 by the DCCC for media advertising buys

$75,000 by the liberal super PAC Communications Workers of America Working Voices for “printed materials”

$59,750 by the PAC of the 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for canvassers

$6,125 by the National Right to Life PAC for mailings

This afternoon, the liberal super PAC House Majority PAC, which was launched earlier this year, unveiled its own advertisement for the race — which reportedly will be in the “low six figures” — but as of press time, the website of the Federal Election Commission did not yet display any spending reports for the group.

During the final 20 days of an election, groups that spend at least $1,000 on last-minute independent expenditures — messages that expressly advocate the election or defeat of specific candidates — must report these politicking activities to the FEC within 24 hours of doing so. And groups that spend $10,000 or more on independent expenditures must file a 48-hour notice with the FEC.

The special election is being conducted to fill the vacancy created in wake of Republican Rep. Chris Lee’s resignation earlier this year after the website Gawker published a shirtless photo of the married politico Lee emailed to a would-be female lover he met on Craigslist. In the aftermath, Lee said he made “profound mistakes” in his personal life and that he makes “no excuses” for his behavior.

Lee carried the GOP-leaning district in November at nearly a three-to-one margin.

During the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain bested Democrat Barack Obama in the region by 6 percentage points. And during the 2004 presidential election, President George W. Bush carried the district by 12 percentage points over Democrat John Kerry.

With polls showing a competitive race, Democratic leadership has also injected last-minute cash in the district.

During the past 10 days alone, Hochul, the Democrat, has raised $30,000 from the leadership PACs and campaign committees of members of Democratic members of Congress, including the legal maximum of $5,000 a piece from the leadership PACs of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Senate Policy Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Overall, Hochul has raised $928,750, according to the Center’s review of documents filed with the FEC through Monday. This sum includes $250,000 of her personal funds.

However, Corwin, the Republican, is the best funded candidate in the race — thanks to significant levels of self-financing.

Corwin has reported raising nearly $2.9 million, according to the Center’s review of campaign finance documents filed with the FEC, including about $2.46 million of her own funds.

Meanwhile, Davis, the independent, has exclusively utilized his own funds for the campaign.

To date, he’s ponied up $2.1 million of his own money for his bid, according to the Center’s review of FEC filings.



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