With Big War Chest, New York Dem Maffei's Prospects Brighten (CQPolitics.com)

By Marie Horrigan, CQ Staff 52 minutes ago A big and expensive television ad campaign began Tuesday for Democratic congressional hopeful Dan Maffei in his bid for the seat of retiring Republican Rep. James T. Walsh of New York's upstate 25th District. Maffei's campaign said it would run television spots through Election Day, giving him a leg up over his Republican opponent, former Onondaga County legislator Dale Sweetland, who has been in the race for only three months. By contrast, Maffei barely paused after losing to Walsh by less than 2 percentage points in 2006 before gearing up for a rematch in 2008. Walsh easily won his re-election bids until the near-upset in 2006, but demographics in the 25th mean Republicans do not have a stranglehold over the seat. They hold a slight registration advantage over Democrats, 36 percent... [read full story]