New York’s Paterson Says He Has $3 Million for 2010 Governor Run

The amounts, made public in a news release a day before today’s state Board of Elections filing deadline, show Paterson has attracted less money than state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Paterson’s probable challenger in a Sept. 14 primary for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Cuomo, 52, hasn’t disclosed his political plans, or the amount of money he’s garnered since July. He had set a goal of raising $20 million by today, and intends to declare his candidacy by March 31, people familiar with his plans said in November. As of July, he had more than $10 million in campaign funds. Paterson has raised a total of $11.5 million and spent about $8.5 million, the campaign stated.

“Money means more than just an ability to go on television,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Manhattan-based political consultant who advised former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall in the 2006 governor’s race and Eliot Spitzer in his 1998 campaign for state attorney general. “It’s a measure of the confidence people have in your ability to win, and right now Cuomo is winning the confidence contest.”

Paterson’s campaign said it wouldn’t release its full report containing individual donors’ names and amounts until today. On Jan. 11, he told reporters his dedication to his job had slowed his fundraising efforts.