5:20 pm  •  27  November 2012

Interviews with multiple Democratic sources have revealed that the battle for the backing of the Queens Democratic Party in next year’s borough president race is between Councilman Leroy Comrie and State Sen. Jose Peralta.

Both are minority candidates, a plus for Party Chair Joe Crowley, who is looking to appear as a progressive leader at home while climbing the political ladder in Washington. After making what turned out to be a far-sighted move in backing Grace Meng for the 6th District seat, Crowley is searching for a candidate representative of Queens’ changing demographics who can replicate Meng’s success, according to sources.

Peralta may have the inside track because of Comrie’s fundraising struggles.

“The filing in six weeks is very important,” said one Democratic source. “The organization looks at the viability of candidates. No money is a problem.”

Comrie, according to his most recent filings, has pulled in a paltry $61,151. Peralta has just about equaled that number, though his fundraising efforts began more recently.

One source proposed a Peralta/Comrie ticket that could unify Black voters in southeast Queens with a Hispanic base spread across the borough.