With the fall of Eliot Spitzer, one question nobody in the press is likely to ask is what financial effect this will have on the state Democratic party and campaign committees.

A recent article in the NY Times talks about Spitzer's ability to raise large donations for the state party. With his departure, will that money dry up, or will he continue to work behind the scenes?

The other question that we'll probably never get an answer to (partly because nobody will ask) is whether Spitzer's decision to resign was based in any part on input from his donors.

Not to harp on one topic, but the only way to get past this pestilential money chase is full public funding of elections, known as "Clean Money, Clean Elections." Stay tuned for major announcements on this topic.

Upstate New York breeds two things in profusion: awful republican Congressmen and outstanding Democratic challengers. You know about Eric Massa; now meet Jon Powers.

Via Ben, here's a biographical video well worth taking a look at.

Per Albany Project, Jon raised $117,000 in the last quarter, a good showing on its own merits and certainly for a challenger running against an entrenched incumbent, in his case, Tom Reynolds. You may remember the latter as an enabler of Mark Foley, who came within a few points of losing in November 2006.

Unnoticed by the chattering classes, the playing field for the 2008 battle over the State Senate is taking shape. The DSCC already has field teams on the ground in Long Island, softening up various incumbents; now, Jimmy Dahroug, running for Senate in the Third District, just released some truly remarkable fundraising numbers.

Dahroug:

I'm writing today to thank you for your support, enthusiasm, and kind words in the early months of our campaign. Also, I wanted to share some great news.
With your help, we've collected over $40,000 in receipts for our first filing! We did this in less than 8 weeks! Imagine what we can do by January.

This is a truly remarkable feat, but we haven't done it alone. The outpouring of support we've received - both financial and otherwise - sends a strong message that the people of Suffolk County are ready for a change.