The Times reports on fundraising for New York City’s upcoming races.

New York’s municipal elections may be more than a year away, but try telling that to those who get hit up for campaign donations.

Already 146 people have announced that they are running for city office in 2009, well above the previous record of 103 set in 2001, according to the Campaign Finance Board. And because the candidates must collect donations early to qualify for the city’s generous matching, they are trying to amass cash before everyone flees the city for vacation in August.

Members of the city’s political class are bumping into each other at event after event, night after night.