By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE— Following weeks of national news coverage of the East Side congressional race painting her as a Wall Street candidate, congressional contender Reshma Saujani announced Wednesday she had raised nearly $400,000 in the second quarter from small donors.
Less than 25 percent of Saujani's second quarter fundraising drive came from Wall Street donors, according to her campaign. On average, Saujani's donors gave $250 or less, a fact her campaign said signals community support.
Saujani has now raised $1.2 million and has $426,000 cash on hand for the primary battle, according to her campaign.
A recent Washington Post article said that Saujani's business and hedge fund background has helped her pick up voters disenfranchised with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney's advocacy of Wall Street reform.
News anchor Chris Matthews called Saujani out on her ties to Wall Street during an interview on his MSNBC show last week.
Saujani's campaign shot back Wednesday with news that she was able to obtain more than 7,250 signatures to get on the Democratic primary ballot for September.
Under campaign rules, all candidates entering the primary race must submit at least 1,250 signatures to get on the ballot.
Not ceding any claims to grassroots support to Saujani, Rep. Maloney's campaign accumulated 23,500 signatures in support of their candidate, a figure they said indicates community backing.
"I am honored by the overwhelming grassroots support across the district," Maloney said in a statement Wednesday.
Volunteers for Maloney knocked on more than 28,000 doors across the district to obtain the signatures, eventually garnering 18 times the amount needed for the incumbent to appear on the ballot.
