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Ex-Rep. Vito Fossella’s last-minute, game-changing endorsement from former President Donald Trump in the Staten Island borough president GOP primary got a paid, targeted Facebook boost from an unexpected source: conservative cable news outlet Newsmax.
Like many other news organizations, Newsmax Media Inc. regularly spends money to promote its stories on the social media platform.
But Newsmax’s $25,000 expenditure for its piece touting the Trump endorsement in the local race stood out, given that it was the only of the cable outfit’s 54 ad buys last month that targeted a single state New York leading up to the city’s June 22 primary election.
Vito Fosella pulls ahead in GOP Staten Island borough president race as Matteo concedes Dave Goldiner
Disgraced former U.S. Rep. Vito Fossella took a slim but decisive lead over New York City Councilman Steven Matteo on Tuesday in their Republican primary fight for Staten Island borough president.
Matteo, who led by 25 votes after a previous preliminary tally of ranked-choice votes cast in person, saw his fortunes flip after mail-in ballots were added to the mix, and he conceded on Tuesday night.
“Unfortunately, while it was extremely close, it has become clear that the lead Vito Fossella has built up with absentee ballots is insurmountable,” Matteo said in a statement. “I would like to congratulate him on a hard-fought election.”
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