Sen. Mark Grisanti, widely considered to be one of the most endangered of the Republican incumbents in the state Senate, has spent more than $253,000 in the last six months, a burn rate that outpaced his contributions.

Grisanti raised $200,368 over the last six months and has $226,530 in cash on hand after spending more than $259,000.

The Buffalo Republican’s campaign-finance report for July shows that he has spent at least $121,740 on television ad production and media buys.

He has most likely spent more on paid media and mail, given that his campaign flyers went out in May, along with the TV ads.

The ads and mailers have, in part, sought to define Grisanti to new voters, as well as serve to soften his image following a highly publicized brawl at a Niagara Falls casino.

It is unusually early for an incumbent candidate to spend that big and that early on a re-election campaign.

If anything the spending underscores the tenuous position Grisanti is in. Even with a redistricting plan drawn by his fellow Senate Republicans, Grisanti represents one of the most Democratic districts in the state Legislature.

Complicating matters is that Grisanti was one of four Republican lawmakers to break ranks and support last year’s legalization of same-sex marriage.

As CapCon pointed out yesterday, another GOP supporter of gay marriage, Sen. Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, is pouring even more money and resources into his re-election bid, spending $380,000.

Grisanti, like McDonald, faces a primary challenger to his right, along with a Democratic opponent in the fall.

Grisanti Camp Filing

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