Chris Gibson Facing Wealthy Dem Newcomer in 19th District Race

KINGSTON, N.Y. (AP) — Democrat Sean Eldridge has donated nearly $1 million of his own money to his bid for Congress, and his venture capital firm has made investments in businesses across the sprawling upstate New York 19th congressional district where he moved last year.

The moves have attracted plenty of attention to the 27-year-old candidate, who is married to Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes. They've also stirred partisan accusations that he's a carpetbagger trying to buy votes in the closely watched race against two-term Republican incumbent Rep. Chris Gibson.

Eldridge dismisses the criticism as mudslinging and argues that the 49-year-old Gibson is too conservative for a district that voted to re-elect President Barack Obama. He contends that the real money issue is Gibson's acceptance of contributions from committees representing corporate interests.