Scott Murphy, the Democratic nominee in the special House election in the upstate 20th district, will spend some time in New York City this week.

On Wednesday, Gov. David Paterson (D) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D) will headline a fundraiser for Murphy at the Times Square offices of the powerful Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom law firm. Tonight, at a bar near Union Square, Murphy will be the guest of Democratic leadership for the 21st Century, a group of young liberal leaders.

Murphy, a 39-year-old venture capitalist, is locked in a tough battle with state Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco (R), in the race to replace Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), who was appointed to the Senate in late January. The special House election is set for March 31.

Both the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are now up with TV ads in the race attacking the opposing party’s nominee.

Israel Continues to Fundraise, Eye Senate

Rep. Steve Israel (D), who continues to keep his options open regarding a possible Senate run next year, is holding a breakfast fundraiser on Wednesday at the Associated General Contractors town house on Capitol Hill.

Ticket prices for the event start at $500 for individuals and $1,000 for political action committees.

Israel is one of about a half-dozen New York Democrats who are mentioned as possible primary challengers to appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D). As of Dec. 31, Israel had far and away the most campaign cash on hand of all the potential Senate candidates, including Gillibrand, with $1.7 million.

Israel was recently tapped to be the top recruiter for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and on Monday the DCCC announced that Jon Vogel, a former senior aide to Israel, will be the committee’s executive director for the 2010 cycle.