NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Former NYPD captain-turned-leading NYC mayoral candidate Eric Adams has reportedly bested his Republican rival — Curtis Sliwa — by 10 times in fundraising in comparison over the past 43 days.
The New York Post reports Adams, the current Brooklyn Borough President, has raised $2 million by seeking support from Democrats and Republicans with fundraising events from Queens, the Hamptons and Brooklyn — with up to five events per day.
Councilman Eric Ulrich, a Queens Republican who supports Adams, told the Post the moderate Democratic nominee is going to "crush" Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels.
Although favored to win, Adams is said to be seeking support from both sides in order to pursue his "law-and-order mandate."
Ken Fisher, a politically connected real estate attorney who recently hosted a fundraiser for Adams at 2 World Trade Center which raised $50,000, said the Democrat isn't taking his lead for granted — using fundraisers to share his message.
“It’s an opportunity for him to go out and reinforce the narrative and the image that he wants to create for himself and to take advantage of the fact that he’s a hot commodity," Fisher said. "People want to hear what he has to say."
Campaign sources told the Post that Adams is still likely to win the mayoral race beyond a $500,000 victory — as suggested by one fundraiser — with money on TV, digital ads and in-person fundraisers.
“It’s a way to keep your supporters activated and to keep people engaged,” a Democratic fundraiser said.
Republican billionaire supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis said he hoped Adams, who beat out a large Democratic primary field to win the nomination in July, would fund moderate city council members.
“If I was running for mayor and I was favored to win, I’d contribute to council people on my side to help govern the city. I think that’s the game plan, to make sure he has the right City Council that will demand law and order in the city,” said the businessman, who hosted a fundraiser in the Hamptons this summer.
However, his "quiet" fundraisers have become a way Sliwa's campaign has tried to contrast with Adams.
Sliwa campaign manager Robert Hornack mocked the Democrat, saying his candidate doesn't need to be "wined and dined" to be recognized.
“Going out with Curtis, you can see the energy that he generates from people in the street," Hornack said. "People see him and run to him. It’s like walking down the street with Tom Cruise."