New York Sen. Chuck Schumer has an astonishing $19.3 million in campaign cash on hand - more than any other senator in the nation - and he's running virtually unopposed for a third term.
The Brooklyn Democrat raised a hefty $2.9 million in the last three months of 2009 alone, adding to his bulging war chest. He spent only about $298,000 in the same period - most of it on chit-building contributions to fellow pols.
The mountain of money has scared off all serious state Republicans, who had a hard enough time fielding little-known ex-Nassau County legislator Bruce Blakeman to run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Not that Schumer is totally unopposed.
He's facing a longshot primary challenge from drug law reform advocate and comedian Randy Credico.
CNBC host Larry Kudlow is mulling a potential challenge on the GOP line. And Dominican community activist Martin Chicon plans to announce his run as a Republican next week.
Chicon said he wasn't intimidated by Schumer's money. "He, in the end, may be his own worst enemy," he said.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer has an astonishing $19.3 million in campaign cash on hand - more than any other senator in the nation - and he's running virtually unopposed for a third term.
The Brooklyn Democrat raised a hefty $2.9 million in the last three months of 2009 alone, adding to his bulging war chest. He spent only about $298,000 in the same period - most of it on chit-building contributions to fellow pols.
The mountain of money has scared off all serious state Republicans, who had a hard enough time fielding little-known ex-Nassau County legislator Bruce Blakeman to run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Not that Schumer is totally unopposed.
He's facing a longshot primary challenge from drug law reform advocate and comedian Randy Credico.
CNBC host Larry Kudlow is mulling a potential challenge on the GOP line. And Dominican community activist Martin Chicon plans to announce his run as a Republican next week.
Chicon said he wasn't intimidated by Schumer's money. "He, in the end, may be his own worst enemy," he said.
