ALBANY, N.Y. — Republican Rick Lazio’s underfunded campaign for governor of New York attracted big donors dedicated to anti-terrorism efforts after he called for a probe of funding for a proposed mosque near ground zero, according to state records. State campaign finance records show Long Island real estate developer and philanthropist Lawrence Kadish and his wife, Susan, contributed $75,000 to...
ALBANY, N.Y. — Republican Rick Lazio’s underfunded campaign for governor of New York attracted big donors dedicated to anti-terrorism efforts after he called for a probe of funding for a proposed mosque near ground zero, according to state records.
State campaign finance records show Long Island real estate developer and philanthropist Lawrence Kadish and his wife, Susan, contributed $75,000 to Lazio’s campaign beginning July 26. Their donations were about a third of the total Lazio collected during the 30-day period.
Lazio began his high-profile effort July 7 to force an investigation of funding of the mosque project. He had demanded that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic nominee for governor, investigate the funding of the Islamic center and Lazio accused the imam leader of the project of being sympathetic to terrorists.
Cuomo refused, citing the constitutional protection of freedom of religion, and said there wasn’t any funding to investigate.
One of the investors is a Long Island medical clinic owner whose expressions of sympathy for Palestinians included a donation to a charity later shut down for links to Hamas, the project’s developer confirmed Friday.
Lazio wouldn’t comment on the donations he received since his July effort but did take a swipe at Cuomo. “How many more red flags does Andrew Cuomo need to do his job?” said Lazio spokesman David James.
Cuomo had no immediate comment.
Kadish has served on the board of the Hudson Institute think tank for global security, a spokesman confirmed. The institute states Kadish had advised Americans for Victory over Terrorism, a group formed to support President George W. Bush’s war on terror, as well as other groups dedicated to Middle East peace and security. He also was active in Republican groups in Lazio’s home area of Suffolk County, on Long Island.
Kadish didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment left with a worker at his Long Island company.
Lazio has been criticized for his role in a state Conservative Party TV ad that featured his picture and images of the World Trade Center and stated “patriotic Americans” want “real answers” about the Islamic center project.
Democrats and others accused Lazio of exploiting the issue for political gain, a charge the conservative Republican has denied. State and national polls show most Americans also have concerns about the project.
Under the headline “Mr. Lazio’s Bid for Attention,” a New York Times editorial on Aug. 23 said Lazio was making “increasingly hysterical attacks” on the project and “had no shame about using images of the smoldering World Trade Center in a new political ad.” The editorial noted Lazio was far behind Cuomo in polls and fundraising and that may be the explanation for his “attempt to exploit ground zero images for political gain.”
Three of the four installments from Kadish and his wife came after the editorial. A few other contributors involved in pro-Israel groups provided thousands more after Lazio’s July 7 letter.