Democratic incumbent Paul Kanjorski raised about $260,000 in the first fundraising quarter to give him about $1.2 million on hand, reports filed with the FEC show.
Although Kanjorski’s possible Republican opponent in the fall, Lou Barletta, said earlier this week he had raised $300,000 since declaring in December, it’s unlikely the Hazleton mayor raised more than the congressman during the first fundraising quarter. Barletta’s totals included money raised in December, which amounted to $62,000, and early April, which is not part of the first fundraising quarter.
The two-time congressional candidate said he has about $205,000 on hand.
But before facing Barletta, Kanjorski must fend off an inter-party challenge from Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien, who, if nothing else, could force the incumbent to spend money he’d rather save for the general election.
O’Brien, who has raised $320,000 this election cycle, has just $47,000 on hand now, according to a report filed with the FEC. He raised about $115,000 in the first fundraising quarter but simultaneously spent $175,000.
I spent an hour yesterday reviewing the Federal donor reports through a link on the Times Leader web site. It is shocking but not surprising to see that almost all of Kanjorski’s money is from PAC’s that belong to companies that are tied to the Financial Services Committee. It really is disgusting to see. Even worse is that there only a few individuals supporting him. This confirms that he has almost no support within his district and he is totally disconnected from his constituents. Last time around Barletta beat him in his home county and almost beat him in his home town of Nanticoke where Kanjorski only won by 30 or 40 votes. He only won with straight Democratic votes. Most of that came from the Poconos and Scranton. Another travesty thanks to Obama and Acorn.
Paul Kanjorski is done. Finally done. Most people in Wyoming Valley wonder how he got away with funneling 9 million dollars to his family’s start up company where he sat on and ran the board, the money was paid out in salary and bonus to his family members and they filed Chapter 7 after doing no sales. Yes, no sales.
Only a well entrenched Democrat could get away with that. Paul Kanjorski and his nephew Peter should be in jail. The least we can do is vote him out of office.