To: Interested Parties
From: DCCC
Date: October 30, 2014
Re: Pre-election Day Outlook – New York’s 11th Congressional District
Headed into election day, Democratic candidate Domenic Recchia has a clear financial advantage, an unprecedented field operation on the ground, and is running against an indicted incumbent who has been mired in scandal since the day he took office. He is well-positioned to win.
Staten Islanders are ready for someone who will stay focused on the district’s priorities
Since the day he took office, Congressman Michael Grimm’s tenure has been mired in scandal and controversy. Whether it’s his 20-count indictment, threatening to kill a reporter at the State of the Union address, or locking himself in a public bathroom with a woman for 17 minutes, wherever Congressman Grimm goes scandal follows.
Congressman Grimm has proven he does not have the character to represent his constituents in Congress:
- Grimm was arrested and indicted on 20 counts including mail fraud, wire fraud, lying under oath, hiring illegal immigrants, and failing to report more than $1 million dollars in income.
- On top of that, Grimm has been investigated by the FBI for illegal fundraising, and several of Grimm’s aides and business associates have been arrested on charges ranging from campaign finance violations to stealing money from homeowners.
Congressman Grimm is powerless and unable to deliver.
- Michael Grimm’s 20-count indictment has rendered him powerless to deliver for the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn.
- His upcoming criminal trial in February will prevent him from serving the people of this district in a meaningful way, as he focuses more on keeping himself out of jail than keeping good-paying jobs.
Domenic Recchia is committed to the district, not keeping himself out of prison
Domenic Recchia has a proven track record of working together to get results for his constituents. Recchia is squarely focused on the constituents he’s running to represent – unlike Michael Grimm, who is focused on keeping himself out of prison.
- As the New York City Council’s Finance Committee chairman Recchia passed four on-time, bipartisan budgets that prioritized job creation, seniors and education.
- Recchia has been steadfastly committed to public education and has been a champion for both students and teachers.
- After super storm Sandy Recchia worked on the ground to assist with cleanup and rebuilding efforts and in Congress will continue to work to make sure New Yorkers get every resource possible to finish rebuilding to people can get back in their homes and small businesses can prosper.
Financial Advantage
Recchia has developed a strong financial advantage over Congressman Grimm since his 20-count indictment. Recchia raised $417,000 for his campaign during the Q3 fundraising period and has raised over $2.24 million in total. During that same period, Congressman Grimm raised an anemic $89,000. Recchia was able begin airing television advertisements as early as August and communicate his strengths while Grimm has had extremely limited resources to communicate his message.
Ground Game
Recchia’s campaign has run an unprecedented field operation on the ground that has put the campaign in a strong position to turn voters out to re-elect him on November 4th. So far Recchia’s volunteers and grassroots supporters have made nearly half a million targeted phone calls, knocked more than 200,000 doors throughout the district, and registered approximately 7,500 voters.
Momentum Building for Recchia Headed Into Election Day
With the election less than a week away, the momentum is building behind Domenic Recchia his contrast against Congressman Michael Grimm could not be more clear. Recchia is focused on the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn while Congressman Grimm is focused on keeping himself out of prison in the face of his 20-count indictment. Recchia’s financial advantage, unprecedented ground game, and steady focus on his the district’s priorities – unlike Michael Grimm, who is focused on his indictment – put Domenic Recchia in a strong position for success on election day.