"Public financing? Really Quinny? Personally, I like to buy my votes with my own cash." (nycmayorsoffice's flickr).

When it comes to elections most people are focused on the biggie this November. But not New York City pols! They're already focused on next November when Gracie Mansion, long left vacant by Mike Bloomberg, is once again up for grabs. And the early front runner is... still City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Not only does the Bloomberg and Ed Koch-favorite Quinn have a slight edge in recent polls, she now has the distinction of being the first candidate to raise the maximum amount allowed before the primaries for those seeking public funding. Which is to say, according to her campaign consultant Josh Isay, she has raised more than $4.9 million and, with the public financing she expects to get, her coffers will therefore top out at $6,729,000. Which, in theory, gives her more time to focus on her primary campaign.

But probably not a good idea to make too much of the news, say some political watchers. Quinn is merely the first candidate to hit the public financing cap and it is expected that most if not all of the serious contenders for 2013—which on the Democratic side include Bill De Blasio, Bill Thompson, Scott Stringer, John Liu (well, kinda) and Tom Allon—will also make that mark if they are looking for public financing. And anyway, there is still lots of time for something dramatic to happen in the next 22 months and shake up the whole election (*cough* Alec Baldwin *cough*). After all, remember in 2010 when Anthony Weiner already had $3.9 million saved up for the race?