So much campaign cash, so little to spend it on.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer has an astonishing $19.3 million in campaign cash on hand - more than any other senator in the nation - and he's running virtually unopposed for a third term.
The Brooklyn Democrat raised a hefty $2.9 million in the last three months of 2009 alone, adding to his bulging war chest. He spent only about $298,000 in the same period - most of it on chit-building contributions to fellow pols.
The mountain of money has scared off all serious state Republicans, who had a hard enough time fielding little-known ex-Nassau County legislator Bruce Blakeman to run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Not that Schumer is totally unopposed.
He's facing a longshot primary challenge from drug law reform advocate and comedian Randy Credico.
CNBC host Larry Kudlow is mulling a potential challenge on the GOP line. And Dominican community activist Martin Chicon plans to announce his run as a Republican next week.
Chicon said he wasn't intimidated by Schumer's money. "He, in the end, may be his own worst enemy," he said.
Comment: Ah to think, the 17th Amendment got big money out of US Senate politics...
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