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CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. Representative Nan Haywoth (R-Cortlandt) and Democratic candidate Richard Becker are gearing up for what could be a tough election. Although congressional seats for the House of Representatives are not up for another year, the parties are preparing for a tough fight.
Both doctors living within 30 minutes of each other, the two have already begun to rail against the oppositions' platforms. Becker is currently a cardiologist at Hudson Valley Hospital Center, and councilman for the Town of Cortlandt. He is up for reelection this year, but is running unopposed. Hayworth is an ophthalmologist.
Mass emails blasting opposition performance have been sent out by each party, the National Republican Congressional Committee sent out an email calling Becker a "rubber stamp" for the Democratic Party. Becker hasn't yet won the Democratic primary to oppose Republican Nan Hayworth. Becker's campaign has sent email railing against Hayworth's environmental voting record.
"Frankly I think it's that they're afraid of a challenger who's a serious challenger, so they're out there trying to get out in front of the story, they're trying to frame us and that's not going to work," said campaign manager, John McBride. "Richard is an independent person who has his own positions on things, he's basically the progressive in the field," said McBride.
Nathaniel Sillin, spokesman for Hayworth's office said "Right now the congresswoman is focused on representing her district in Washington and the Hudson valley." Sillin said that some fundraising efforts had taken place, but that the election was still over one year away.
As of September 30, Richard Becker has $116,667 in his campaign accounts, with only $50,000 in debt. Hayworth has $890,745 in her campaign accounts, but has considerably more in debt, as $504,559. Some of Becker's biggest contributors have been from individuals, with over 50 percent. The rest has been financed largely by Becker himself. Hayworth's funds have come largely from political action committees, nearly 47 percent, and about 50 percent in individual contributions.
So far the two have blasted each other on Medicare, Becker has attacked Hayworth's environmental voting record, and Hayworth has called Becker a party loyalist for the Democrat.
"Becker will be nothing more than a rubber stamp for Obama and Pelosi's broken policies, which voters are rejecting more than ever before," said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay, in an email.
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