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Maine: Money Flowing in Days Leading Up to Primary

In the days leading up to the June 10 primary, House candidates were draining their campaign accounts while Senate candidates were stockpiling for the long haul, according to pre-primary campaign finance reports. The reporting period covers April 1 to May 21.

In the Senate contest, Rep. Tom Allen (D) could not outraise Sen. Susan Collins (R). In the pre-primary period, Allen raised $219,600 and had $2.57 million in cash on hand. Collins’ campaign said she raised $304,500 in the seven-week period and ended with $4.63 million in cash on hand.

In the 1st district Democratic primary to replace Allen, former Common Cause President Chellie Pingree (D), the presumed frontrunner, continued to lead the pack in fundraising. Pingree, who ran for Senate in 2002, raised $236,400 and spent $454,300 in the pre-primary period and finished with $352,000 in cash on hand.

Following Pingree among Democrats in campaign contributions this period, Iraq War veteran Adam Cote raised $88,100, spent $304,200 and had $61,700 in cash on hand. State Sen. Ethan Strimling raised $112,700, including a $30,000 loan from the candidate. He spent $250,200 and had $81,500 left in the bank.

York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence raised $28,600, spent $143,500 and had $101,700 left in his coffers. Bringing up the rear, former state Senate Majority Leader Michael Brennan raised $31,100, spent $93,700 and had $27,900 in cash on hand.

For the Republicans running in the Democratic-leaning 1st district, “debt” is the word. Businessman Dean Scontras raised $62,700, including a $35,000 loan from the candidate. He spent $105,700 and had just $7,200 in cash on hand, with $66,500 in debt. The 2004 nominee, Charlie Summers, raised $26,200, spent $83,400 and had $49,000, while carrying $77,700 in debt.

— Shira Toeplitz

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