Dem candidates raise $580,000 for campaigns

PORTLAND – With the Democratic primary for the 1st District congressional seat more than a year away, the four declared Democratic candidates already have raised about $580,000 for their campaigns.

But the two candidates in a closely watched race for one of Maine’s U.S. Senate seats have raised $2.3 million between them. Incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins reports raising $1.26 million during the quarter ending June 30, leaving her with $2.3 million in cash on hand.

Collins’ Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, reports raising $1.1 million during the latest reporting period, leaving him with $1.7 million in cash on hand.

In southern Maine’s 1st District, Chellie Pingree, who unsuccessfully challenged Collins for the Senate in 2002, had raised $229,883 from 750 contributors through June, according to her second-quarter fundraising report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence had raised $170,990 from more than 600 contributors, while Adam Cote, a Portland lawyer and Iraq war veteran, had received $113,247 from more than 200 donors. Michael Brennan, a former state Senate majority leader from Portland, had contributions of $62,986 from 266 donors.

The candidates, who are running for the seat being vacated by six-term Rep. Allen, have raised more than double the amount raised at this time in the previous election for an open congressional seat, six years ago.

Democratic campaign officials said the high fundraising amounts are a reflection of many factors, including a general sense of dissatisfaction with the course of the nation and the rising influence of the Internet.

“People are definitely looking for change,” said Lisa Prosienski, campaign manager for Pingree.

Two other potential Democratic candidates – Portland City Councilor Jill Duson and state Sen. Ethan Strimling of Portland – did not file campaign finance reports because they have not officially launched their campaigns.

On the Republican side, only Charles Summers of Scarborough, the former regional head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, filed a campaign finance report, reporting contributions of $2,850. Dean Scontras, an Eliot businessman also seeking the Republican nomination, did not file because he didn’t enter the race until July.

The last time Maine had an election for an open congressional seat was in 2002, when Democrat Michael Michaud was elected in the 2nd District race. Through June 2001, a crowded field of candidates in that race had raised about $220,000, after adjusting for inflation.

One big change since then is the rise of online fundraising. Pingree, for example, has received $97,000 in Internet contributions so far. All of the Democratic campaigns predicted that online giving would have a major effect on the 2008 race.

“I think it’s absolutely going to be a huge factor,” said Emily Boyle, political director for the Cote campaign.

Although the race is young, the fundraising reports provide a glimpse at the support behind the candidates.

Cote, who is a lawyer at Pierce Atwood in Portland, has raised more than $15,000 from his fellow attorneys at the law firm. Lawrence’s contributions include $250 from former Attorney General Drew Ketterer and $500 from lobbyist Severin Beliveau.

Pingree, who recently stepped down as head of Common Cause, a national organization that lobbies for government accountability, got many contributions from outside Maine.

Her contributions included $2,300 from Frances Franken, wife of the comedian and U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken of Minnesota, and $500 from Christie Hefner, the head of Playboy Enterprises and daughter of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.