Just how much does Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson support his colleague, Sen. Eric Schneiderman, in his statewide bid?

Well, as much as we here at CapTon hate to measure sentiment in money…$15,400 almost one month before the Sept. 14 primary is a great way to say “I love you” to your favorite AG candidate.

Sampson made just two transfers between the 32-day and 11-day pre-pimrary reports.

The other – $6,000 – went to Sen. Kevin Parker (whose assault case is now being handled by the office of the lone GOP AG candidate, Staten Island DA Dan Donovan, due to a connection in the Brooklyn DA’s office to his primary opponent, Wellington Sharpe).

One of Schneiderman’s primary opponents, Eric Dinallo, has suggested Schneiderman is too conflicted to investigate the Senate if he becomes AG due to his close relationship with Sampson and leadership role in the chamber, and so would have to recuse himself from any related cases.

Schneiderman has rejected that arguement saying it has no legal basis.

UPDATE: A reader reminds me that Sampson gave $40,000 on July 9.

So, Sampson is officially maxed out ($18,100 primary limit for statewide candidates and $37,800 general) – or darn close to it.

There’s also a bit of a discrepency between Sampson and Schneiderman’s reports. Sampson says he sent $15,400 to Schneiderman’s AG campaign on Aug. 12, but Schneiderman is reporting that as $15,900. Odd.

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