Not to be outdone by the man coming up fast behind him to sit on the speaker’s chair, Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) has a cocktail fundraiser of his own scheduled for this Wednesday evening at Nanina’s in the Park.

The invite, which appears below, urges attendees to make out their checks to the Democratic Campaign Committee (DACC), which Prieto took over this past summer when he realized the core staff appeared poised to abandon him and pledge allegiance to Assemblyman Craig Coughlin (D-19).

The $1,000; $2,500; $5,000 and $10,000-per head fundraiser urges supporters to “please join Speaker Vincent Prieto,” on the heels of Coughlin issuing a chest-thumping press release last month that appeared to put the speakership out of Prieto’s reach in time for post election caucusing.

Sources in Atlantic City told InsiderNJ that Prieto continued to button hole other Democrats and make phone calls in an effort to convince them to stand with him, while Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie publicly expressed his doubts about having an all-white male legislative leadership structure.

SEPTEMBER 20 DACC (1)