With the primary election for governor still 11 months away, some campaigns are operating at full fund raising force while others still have a “zero” at the bottom of their ledger sheets.
The first deadline for reporting on finances last week revealed that several privately funded candidates have been collecting donations in earnest. Republican Bruce Poliquin of Georgetown, as of the July 15 deadline, far outpaced all other contenders with $216,521 raised in cash from more than 400 donors – a sum that includes $100,000 of his own money.
Poliquin also reported an additional $60,000 in “in-kind” expenditures he credited to himself. He has spent more than $24,000, mostly on his fund raising consultant and campaign manager.
“I’m thrilled to be out in front,” said Poliquin in a press release. “I knew we’d be competitive, but I am humbled by this level of support this early in the campaign. It shows that we can raise the money we need to win.”
Poliquin did not return calls seeking comment.
Democrat Stephen Rowe and Republican Matt Jacobson raised $59,000 and $38,000, respectively. Jacobson has already spent about $28,000 of his total, with Rowe having sent just over $1400.
Asked what he made of Poliquin’s high totals, Jacobson said they don’t concern him. “It’s too early for it to matter, to be honest,” he said. “I’m really trying to focus on strategy. We haven’t even done an organized fundraiser yet. The money stuff will sort itself out.”
Most of Jacobson’s spending was for a campaign kick-off event and fees to a design and marketing firm.
Republican Leslie Otten is also considering a run for the Republican nomination. Edie Smith, his campaign manager, said Otten’s final decision about entering the race is still months away, and for now his focus in on conducting a “listening tour.” She said Poliquin’s totals are impressive, but pointed out that more than half is his own money.
“He’s obviously done some aggressive fund raising,” said Smith. “It’s not a concern at all because it’s still so very early. In the summertime, people don’t like to talk politics.”
Under Maine election laws, some candidates are privately financed while others opt for public financing under the Maine Clean Election Act. Of the 12 candidates who have registered so far, seven are privately financed. Three of those seven have reported no contributions thus far.
Mark Brewer, a political science professor at University of Maine, said last week’s reporting deadline might serve as a catalyst for other candidates who are considering joining the race.
“It could spark some other people who might be on the fence,” he said.
Asked whether Poliquin’s totals were abnormally high for this early in the campaign, Brewer said they weren’t, though they show that Poliquin has a strong organization in place.
“Those are relatively impressive totals,” said Brewer. “To the general public, he’s a relative unknown. That’s a pretty hefty total at this point.”
Brewer said a candidate like Poliquin, who comes from outside the political realm and largely outside the public eye, faces a challenging task, but one that might be a little easier because of Maine’s independent voters.
“Lesser-known or unknown candidates have a better chance here to break through than they would in New York, where politics are highly partisan and highly professionalized,” he said.
Brewer said little can be gleaned about the gubernatorial race based on the early fund raising totals. He expects more candidates, including some “high-profile names” from the Republican and Democratic parties, to join the race by summer’s end.
Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the Maine Ethics Commission, which oversees election spending, said two more candidates contacted him Friday about entering the race.
Democrat Donna Dion, the former mayor of Biddeford, registered her campaign Friday and Wayne said another candidate appeared nearly ready to follow suit. On Monday, Democrat Rosa Scarcelli of Portland, who owns a property management company, officially entered the race.
