In today's Daily News, Dave Davies has an article on the immense amount of money that John Dougherty has spent through the political committee of his union. Proving that he knows how to make friends, Dougherty spent about 2.8 million dollars in 2003 and 2004. (Does sponsoring John Lieber shirt day for the Phillies count in this?)

Think this is normal, typical union spending? It isn't, at least not in Pennsylvania:

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That's more than twice the spending of the carpenters or laborers, two politically active local unions that are more than twice as large as Local 98, and nine times that of the much larger Philadelphia Federation of Teachers in 2003 and 2004, according to state campaign records.

In fact, Local 98 with its 4,000 members spent far more than statewide unions like the Pennsylvania State Education Association, with 170,000 members, or AFSCME District Council 13, which represents 65,000 Pennsylvania workers.

Dougherty's union appears to lead the state in political spending, and it also dwarfs the spending of the political committees of other potential mayoral candidates.

And, as Davies notes, what may be most important, is that Dougherty has not just given money to well-known races (like half a million dollars to John Street, filed under the "Philly really needs campaign finance reform act."). In fact, he has given money to 42 candidates, seven of whom are Republicans, and 9 political action committees.

Among those who received his dough:

Local 98 also showed considerable largesse for some lower-ranked politicians: $192,000 to Rick Mariano, fellow union member and city councilman; more than $150,000 for South Philadelphia state Rep. Bill Keller, and $120,000 to Dougherty's new ally, State Sen. Vincent Fumo - all Democrats.

And there was $43,000 for the young state House candidate Andrew Hohns, who lost his second run for office last year.

Among other recipients: State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr., $45,000; unsuccessful City Council candidate Dan Pellicciotti, $30,000, and Republican City Councilman Jack Kelly, $25,000.

Dougherty gives money to Republicans, to conservative Democrats, to liberal Democrats. In a way, he is the perfect example of the Philadelphia Democratic Party: No obvious conservative-liberal ideology, just power, pure and simple. And Dougherty has accumulated an amazing amount of that power, among people of all shades and stripes in Philly.

As the article notes, all these donations have provided some pretty tangible benefits for Dougherty: Rendell appointed him to the Delaware Valley Port Authority, Street appointed him as Chairman of the Redevelopment Authority, and he is now the treasurer of the Philly Democratic Party. The guy has more cards up his sleeve than a cheating poker player.

Can Dougherty win in 2007? Not unless he figures out the whole bullying thing will not make the average Philadelphian vote for him. That said, given how far and wide he has spread his money around, from candidates to community groups, you will see support in places where you would not expect to see it. Somehow though, I don't think the guy who has used political donations, among other things, to rocket himself to the top on Philly politics, will be all that committed to getting money out of Philadelphia politics.