Elise Stefanik opponent went viral thanks to George Conway. Stefanik crushed her fundraising anyway

This is bad news for her Democratic challenger, Tedra Cobb, who raised roughly $2 million between October and December. Stefanik’s fourth-quarter fundraising haul is also bad news for Kellyanne Conway’s husband, George Conway, who tried in November to rally his Twitter followers to support the Republican congresswoman’s opponent.

Stefanik now has nearly $3.4 million cash on hand, according to a statement released by her campaign. Much of her fourth-quarter fundraising haul, the largest of Stefanik’s career as a congresswoman, comes from 50,000 first-time donors. The average donation was $50, according to her campaign.

“I am overwhelmed by this historic level of support from my constituents and donors across the country for my reelection in 2020,” Stefanik said in a statement. “Every day of the week, I choose the North Country and America over the Far-Left Hollywood liberals like Rosie O’Donnell and Chelsea Handler who are funding my opponent.”

The congresswoman’s turn this summer as a staunch defender of President Trump during the House’s impeachment proceedings appears to be the main driver of her fundraising numbers. According to WWNY-TV, her contributions jumped from an estimated $450,000 between July and September to more than $3 million by the year’s end.

“This record-breaking support is indicative of the countless bipartisan results I’ve delivered for the hardworking families in my district. Our campaign looks forward to running against failed candidate Taxin’ Tedra Cobb, the Toast of Tinseltown,” the representative for New York’s 21st Congressional District added Wednesday in her statement.

Stefanik’s impressive fourth-quarter numbers represent yet another frustrating setback for Kellyanne Conway’s husband, whose efforts to oppose Trump and his allies include impotent rage-tweeting, teaming with failed GOP strategists to co-found a pro-Democrat super PAC, and getting a few opinion articles placed in news outlets.

In November, after Stefanik pulled an impeachment hearing stunt wherein she complained that she was not allowed more speaking time than was previously agreed to by the committee’s ranking members, Kellyanne Conway’s husband became very upset.

Stefanik “is lying trash,” he tweeted to his 870,000-plus followers. “Please give to her opponent.”

Some of his fans may have taken his exhortation seriously. It could account for a portion of Cobb’s nearly $2 million. But his viral complaining certainly did nothing to dampen enthusiasm for Stefanik’s reelection efforts. In fact, I would go so far as to guess that his attack on Stefanik actually boosted her contributions.

After all, spite is a powerful thing.