TV ad campaign begins for Syracuse-area congressional seat

Jill Terreri • Staff writer • July 8, 2008 Democratic congressional candidate Dan Maffei is taking to the airwaves today, and viewers in Rochester and Syracuse can expect to see television commercials in support of the 25th District politician from now until November. Maffei is also expected to post at least $470,000 in campaign donations from the last three months when fundraising reports are made public July 15, bringing his total funds raised to $1.3 million and his cash on hand to over $950,000, according to campaign spokesman Michael Whyland. When Maffei ran two years ago, he had raised just over $331,000 to date by June 30. Maffei has a key advantage over his opponent, Republican Dale Sweetland: Time. Maffei ran for the seat in 2006, losing to Rep. James Walsh, R-Onondaga, then an 18-year incumbent, by less than 1... [read full story]