Leading in the polls but lagging in the money game, Republican mayoral hopeful Joe Lhota has received a major boost in getting into the finish line and play it competitive in the general with the help of the Koch family.

Politicker reports:

David Koch and his wife, Julia, have each contributed $145,050 to “New Yorkers for Proven Leadership,” which will begin airing television ads tomorrow touting the former MTA chairman and deputy mayor, sources said.

“We believe that Joe Lhota represents the best hope for the future of the city so we can deal with the fiscal crisis that we’re facing in a responsible way so that we can continue to promote good jobs, safe streets and keep the city moving forward in the right direction,” the group’s spokesman, Michael McKeon, told Politicker this evening.

To kick off their efforts, the group will be running two-15-minute “bookend” spots, produced by Something Else Strategies‘s Heath Thompson and Lori Raad–vets of Rudy Giuliani’s 2008 presidential campaign. The first, entitled “Ready,” features upbeat music and an early-90s-looking background, and heavily touts Mr. Giuliani’s endorsement, while declaring Mr. Lhota the only candidate who will keep the crime rate in check the “take on the fiscal crisis.” The second, titled “Joe Knows” touts, takes a more serious tone, touting Mr. Lhota’s “strong conservative leadership,” his experience with “crisis,” and “results.”

In the most recent poll, released Tuesday, Mr. Lhota leads his main rival, John Catsimatidis by 24 points.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)