Ball, Wagner Clash Over Campaign Contributions

Justin Wagner

* Justin Wagner, the Democrat challenging state Sen. Greg Ball, has been touting his campaign fundraising numbers as evidence that he is “poised for victory” since he has raised more than any other Democrat trying to oust a Senate Republican. But the total in Wagner’s latest report, $108,933, is less than the $118,039 Ball raised in the same period. “Thankfully, our opposition has violated the Golden Rule of any winning campaign; they are starting to believe their own press releases,” Joe Bachmeier, a Ball spokesman, said in a statement. “Our internal numbers show us with a commanding lead and we have positioned large TV, radio, billboard and print buys months in advance.” Ball vastly outspent Wagner, but the campaigns now have similar levels of cash: $136,858 for Wagner and $151,325 for Ball. “Over 80 percent of Senator Ball’s money comes from New York City real estate developers and the Senate Republican Committee,” charged Steve Napier, Wagner’s campaign manager. “He’s blown through $500,000 in the past 7 weeks – Senator Ball is running scared.”