Greg Ball

Republican state Assemblyman Greg Ball outraised Democratic Rep. John Hall in the second quarter, foreshadowing what could be a tough re-election battle for the second-term congressman.

Ball reported a total of $182,000 in receipts for the second quarter, compared to $161,000 for Hall.  

Almost all of Ball’s money came from individual donors, rather than political action committees. Hall’s fundraising numbers, meanwhile, are well down from the comparable period in the last election cycle. Hall reported raising $419,000 for the second quarter of 2007, and had $666,000 cash on hand.  

Hall still has a comfortable cash-on-hand cushion this time around, with $292,000 to Ball’s $100,000.  

Hall scored one of the biggest upsets of the 2006 campaign cycle, defeating six-term incumbent Sue W. Kelly by 2 percentage points. But he wasn’t seriously tested in his 2008 race against Peekskill Republican Kieran Michael Lalor.  

Ball got an early start on his campaign for the 19th District seat, declaring his candidacy in April. And he has been conducting aggressive outreach and fundraising since.  

UPDATE: A sharp-eyed Democratic aide pointed out (and CQ Politics confirmed) that approximately $20,000 of Ball’s fundraising total included in his second quarter report came from donations made in the first quarter. Ball was actively exploring a bid and raising funds prior to his April announcement; he didn’t have to report those funds until he was an official candidate  

Subtract $20,000 and Ball and Hall’s receipts for the second quarter were essentially even. Still not great result for Hall, given his comparative receipts in 2007.