Money gives some candidates an edge

YOUNGSTOWN — If money is a good indicator of a successful political campaign — and it usually is — state Sen. John Boccieri has an advantage over the competition for the open 16th Congressional District seat.

And if you follow that credo, the campaigns of U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan, D-17th, and Charlie Wilson, D-6th, are extremely comfortable. Both have six-digit campaign funds, neither face primary challenges March 4 and their Republican opponents haven’t filed reports.

Candidates don’t have to file financial reports until they’ve raised or spent $5,000, according to a Federal Election Commission spokesman.

Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat, raised $385,248 in 2007, including $110,789 in the final three months of last year, according to FEC filings.

After expenses, Boccieri had $308,719 cash on hand as of Dec. 31.

Canton Councilwoman-at-Large Mary M. Cirelli, Boccieri’s primary opponent, didn’t file a report.

The Fix, The Washington Post’s political blog, lists the 16th District — held by the retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, a Navarre Republican, since 1973 — as No. 1 on its list of seats most likely to change political party control in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The top fundraiser among the three Republican candidates seeking to replace Regula is state Sen. J. Kirk Schuring of Canton. He raised $269,375 last year, including $75,445 in the final three months.

Schuring had $154,104 cash on hand as of Dec. 31.

For the complete story, read Saturday’s Vindicator or vindy.com