Nutting, Raye top money lists Fund reports filed in 2nd District race

Democrat John Nutting and Republican Kevin Raye have maintained their slim fund-raising edges over their primary competitors in the 2nd Congressional District, according to financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

By the Monday filing deadline, Nutting, a state senator and dairy farmer from the Androscoggin County town of Leeds, led the Democratic field, raising more than $250,000 to date with about $70,000 of that coming in between Jan. 1 and March 31.

Raye, a former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, raised about $78,000 in the reporting period, bringing his total to $203,055.

Former Bangor Mayor Tim Woodcock, who once served as an aide to then-U.S. Sen. William Cohen, actually outpaced Raye in terms of fund raising this period, raising $83,368 to bring the Republican’s total to more than $190,000.

Nutting’s nearest fund-raising rival was Maine Senate President Pro Tempore Michael Michaud, D-East Millinocket, whose total contributions by the end of March approached $228,000.

In the newest report, which covers the first three months of the year, former Maine Sen. Sean Faircloth, D-Bangor, raised $60,204 during the period, besting Michaud’s $45,649 and bringing Faircloth’s total to $167,821.

On the Republican side, former state Rep. Richard Campbell raised about $67,000 during the period, bringing his total to $110,289.

Maine Rep. Stavros Mendros, R-Lewiston, had not filed his FEC report by press time.

On the Democratic side, political scientist Lori Handrahan of Sorrento raised about $30,000 in the last period, bringing her total contributions – which include a $115,000 personal loan to her campaign – to about $152,000.

Maine Sen. Susan Longley, D-Liberty, had raised $109,245 to date, with $19,405 coming in the last reporting period.

Former U.S. foreign assistance officer David Costello, a Lewiston Democrat, raised about $21,000 this period, bringing his total to just under $64,000.

Just as interesting as what the candidates have raised is how much they have spent, many pundits say.

On the Democratic side, Nutting’s campaign had $144,359 left in the bank, while Michaud had $111,712 at the end of the period. Handrahan had $102,002; Longley, $59,237; Costello, $54,111; and Faircloth, $38,132.

For the Republicans, Raye had $152,409 left to spend at the end of March. During the same period, Woodcock had $115,785; and Campbell had $12,751.