Fundraiser was at the home of businessman Anthony H. Gioia
McCain's three hour Buffalo visit nets more than $1 million
Republican presidential candidate John McCain left Buffalo Monday with no new hope of carrying New York in November but still got what he came for — lots of campaign cash.
The Arizona senator established a Western New York political fundraising record at two separate events — raking in more than $1 million — all in the course of about three hours. The cash infusion comes at a good time, just as his Democratic rival — Sen. Barack Obama — reported raising $30 million more than he did during the second quarter of 2008.
“I was overwhelmed with the support he received from the people of Western New York,” said businessman Anthony H. Gioia, the former ambassador to Malta who hosted a dinner for high-end donors at his Meadow Road home. “These people made substantial contributions; it’s not frivolous money for anybody.
“And it’s not because they expect to get anything out of it. It’s because they want to see John McCain as the next president of the United States.”
Organizers of the McCain event encountered little difficulty in raising the record amount, even without any local public appearances or contact with reporters. Indeed, the Arizona senator landed at the Prior Aviation terminal of Buffalo Niagara International Airport at 5:10 p. m. and never got closer than a few dozen yards from any onlookers.
Still, his supporters said he made a lasting impression in speeches for high-end donors at the Gioia home and later to about 200 people at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. All who heard him said he repeated his well-known mantra of strengthening the nation to stand up to terrorism.
“He indicated he believes Islamic terrorism is the [top] issue of this campaign and will come to the fore this fall,” said Russ Gugino, a Hamburg businessman and one of the top organizers of the event. “He also said he thinks that’s where most of the American people are, too.”
The senator wasted no time in continuing a campaign theme of recent days, raising questions about how a candidate for president could be visiting Afghanistan for the first time during Obama’s overseas fact-finding trip this week.
“He said he found that telling,” Gugino said.
McCain’s day in Buffalo began when his “Straight Talk Express” airliner arrived at the airport, where he was greeted by Gioia, Gugino, Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, Erie County Republican Chairman James P. Domagalski and others. Also on hand was Kathy Russert-Hughes, sister of the late Buffalo native and NBC newsman, Tim Russert.
“He wanted to pay his respects to my brother,” she told reporters afterward.
Reporters were kept about 100 yards away from the candidate as he greeted the dignitaries and climbed aboard an sport-utility vehicle, which then joined nine other vehicles for the trip to the Gioia home in North Buffalo. There, about 75 people who donated at least $10,000 dined on gazpacho and tenderloin under a tent in the Gioia backyard, while onlookers and a handful of protesters looked on outside.
Gioia, who served in Malta during President Bush’s first term, said his remarks concentrated on McCain’s sense of duty during his time as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.
In Malta in 2004, Gioia said his embassy was jammed at 5 a. m.
“I said that shows how important the world views the United States presidency,” Gioia said.
The former ambassador described McCain as a “really nice guy” who took time to visit with every table and seemed to enjoy his dinner while seated between his hostess, Donna Gioia, and Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, president of the American Medical Association.
Gioia said McCain, who wore a suit but no tie, took time to chat with all who had their photos taken with him. And Gugino said he autographed a photo for his son, an Army Ranger who has served in Afghanistan.
At the art gallery, McCain addressed about 200 people who paid at least $1,000 each, while police kept close watch on a noisy crowd of about 200 outside. Most in that crowd carried anti-war signs, some shouted obscenities and one woman sang spirituals over a bullhorn.
All, like Jean Dickson of Buffalo, expressed concern over the Republican’s continued support of the war in Iraq.
“McCain is a real war mongerer, and I don’t want to see us go to war with Iran,” she said.
But inside, those who heard the candidate speak liked what they heard about that subject. Domagalski, the Erie County GOP chief, said McCain had no problem discussing the war in terms of his experience as opposed to what he called Obama’s inexperience.
“That reconfirmed in my mind why this man should be president,” he said.
Domagalski said it was unfortunate that McCain’s schedule did not allow more interaction with the press or Buffalo voters but said the event will rank as an important one in the campaign.
“We raised well over $1 million — a healthy piece that will help get his message out,” he said.
Domagalski said the candidate also dwelled on his plans to help make the nation more independent of foreign oil through more domestic drilling.
That hit home to businessman Larry Reger as he was leaving the Albright-Knox.
“I liked what he said about more drilling for oil and getting off our oil dependency,” he said. “It made a lot of sense, and I don’t know why we’ve waited 20 years.”
Besides the protesters, not everybody was thrilled with the McCain visit. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport, said while McCain attended the most lucrative fundraiser in local history, some Western New Yorkers were worrying about how to make ends meet.
“For these hardworking Americans, John McCain offers more of the same disastrous Bush economic policies that got us in this mess,” she said. “Lavish tax breaks for the wealthy, more lost jobs through unfair trade deals, and more cuts to services that help families when someone gets laid off.
“So if you like the Bush economy, you should hire McCain.”
And Jon Powers, the Democrat seeking to succeed the retiring Reynolds in the House of Representatives, issued a statement calling on McCain to take time to speak with working people and explain his free trade policies.
“When I talk to working men and women across the district, they’re not looking for an advantage, they’re looking for a level playing field,” Powers said. “They feel the devastation of John McCain’s cherished trade policies, and they know the Bush administration’s business as usual won’t work in the White House anymore.”
