Attorney Sean Coffey sent an e-mail to supporters today touting his “strong third place victory” at the Democratic Rural Conference straw poll in Niagara Falls this past Saturday, noting he received “almost as many votes as the fourth and fifth place candidates combined.”

“When we began this campaign, not a single person who voted for me knew my name. In a short period of time, I quickly earned the invaluable support of a significant bloc of DRC members,” Coffey wrote in a message with the subject line: “Momentum.”

“….The fact is, the momentum is in my favor and people I’m meeting are telling me to keep going – because it’s time for new voices and new leadership in Albany, and to ensure that the next Attorney General is an experienced and independent advocate to fight against misconduct on Wall Street.”

Coffey received 52 votes, finishing well ahead of the two elected officials in the AG field – Sen. Eric Schneiderman (33 votes) and Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (22 votes).

His supporters cast this as a major victory, noting Coffey has never before held elected office and, unlike the straw poll winner, former state Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo, has never been involved in government and has deep ties to the party rank-and-file, although he has been a big Democratic donor for some time.

(Coffey congratulated Dinallo, but also took something of a swipe at him, noting he “began this process nearly a year ago, which gave him time to frequently visit all forty-seven DRC counties.”)

Coffey didn’t exactly waltz into the DRC cold. He spent a considerable sum – somewhere in the $200,000 range, sources said – on a TV ad that aired upstate in advance of the straw poll, making him the first – and so far, only – AG hopeful to hit the airwaves.

Coffey also had his ad man, Jimmy Siegel, and Miriam Hess, both of whom worked on Eliot Spitzer’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign, whipping votes for him in Niagara Falls. In addition, his charismatic mother – jokingly referred to as the campaign’s “secret weapon” – and his sisters were on hand to press his case.

Party insiders said Coffey hurt himself by suggesting early on that he would forgo the state convention and petition his way onto the ballot, which was seen as something of a slight by some committee members.

UPDATE: It has been pointed out to me that Coffey later clarified his position, insisting he had always planned on going to convention and started stumping around upstate. He has good reviews for his personable style and message of a history of taking the fight to Wall Street.

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