Politics Now

   One of the wonders of Erie County politics is that it knows no season and has no boundaries.

   So it makes all kinds of sense that Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, is already raising funds for 2010. And it also figures that he went all the way to Manhattan to stage his latest fund raiser.

   Indeed, Hoyt reports his campaign took in about $30,000 at a breakfast event held earlier this week. It featured a guest appearance by Sen. Chuck Schumer, while Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and former state Comptroller Ned Regan dropped by too.

   Hoyt finds himself in an "all fund raising, all the time" mode after he was targeted last year by billionaire Tom Golisano and his Responsible New York political committee. The Buffalo Sabres owner spent about $500,000 in an unsuccessful attempt to knock him out of the Assembly.

   Now Hoyt is already blaming Golisano and "disgraced former party boss Steve Pigeon" in a letter he recently sent to supporters. He said Golisano has already funded a mailing criticizing recent votes, and he expects more of the same.

   "It would appear that next year's campaign has already begun," Hoyt said in the letter. "As a result, I am gearing up for what no doubt will be another expensive and nasty campaign."

   Let the games begin.

   -- Robert J. McCarthy