By Michelle Han
Having raised the majority of her $1.6 million campaign war chest in the first half of 1999, Lowey was favored to become the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from New York before Hillary Clinton emerged as a contender last summer.
Lowey did not return a call for comment by press time Wednesday.
The sixth-term congresswoman, whose district is split between neighborhoods in Westchester, the Bronx and Queens, raised $1,624,767 in campaign funds through the end of August, Federal Election Commission records show. Her 18th Congressional District includes neighborhoods in Rego Park, Flushing, Fresh Meadows and Whitestone.
Before Clinton launched her listening tour in the summer of 1999, Lowey had raised $1.3 million between Jan. 1 and June 30. In 2000 the congresswoman raised less than $30,000 in the same period of the remaining $324,009 balance.
On the expenditure side, Lowey spent $373,724 in the first six months of 1999 and under $70,000 in the first half of 2000.
Statewide, Lowey was surpassed in campaign fund-raising only by U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem), who raised $1,683,188 through August, according to FEC filings.
Lowey raised far more than the other Queens congressmen in her re-election bid. As of August 2000, U.S. Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) had raised $768,406, Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) $678,983, Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) $913,035 and Gregory Meeks (D-Far Rockaway) $156,951 and All are seeking re-election this year without facing any challengers.
U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills) had raised $803,395 through August in his race for re-election against City Councilman Noach Dear (D-Brooklyn), who raised more than $1 million.
Records show Lowey has donated almost $30,000 from her campaign war chest to the re-election campaigns of her Democratic colleagues in Washington and in the New York area and to Democratic organizations in Queens and Westchester.
Among the candidates receiving a share of the $29,980 in donations from Lowey
