Though the two leading candidates in Maine’s 2nd District congressional race have each raised just shy of $4 million for their Nov. 6 showdown, their sources of cash are notably different.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, an Oakland Republican who hopes to return for a third term, has been more heavily supported by wealthy donors and political action committees than his Democratic challenger, Jared Golden of Lewiston.
Poliquin’s donors are fewer in number and gave him more than three times as much as the average Golden donor.
In addition, the Republican incumbent has raked in 879 donations from political action committees compared to 56 for Golden. The Democrat has collected 13 percent of the money poured into the race by organizations.
Map the individual donors and contributions from organizations and it becomes clear they are widely spread, an indication of how many people across the nation are keen to see one side or the other prevail in Maine’s sprawling rural district. It could perhaps hold the key to control of the U.S. House for the next two years.
Democrats are hoping for a blue wave that will hand them enough GOP-held districts to put them in charge of the House, breaking the Republicans’ grip on every branch of government. The 2nd District is rated a toss-up by most observers so its race is closely tied to the overall outcome on Election Day.
The nearly nonstop television commercials — more than 200 a day in Maine — show how much the more than $16 million raised by Poliquin, Golden and outside groups can buy to try to sway the results.
Both of the leading candidates are rolling in riches compared to the two independents in the race, neither of whom has reported collecting anything to the Federal Election Committee.
A student mock election sponsored by Maine’s secretary of state Wednesday bolstered what several polls have found in recent weeks: that the election is likely to be close, with its outcome to be determined by the second- and third-place votes cast by supporters of Portland lawyer Tiffany Bond and Southwest Harbor educator Will Hoar.
Bond and Hoar have no commercials in a race where the top two candidates are on the air almost constantly. Outside groups that are not connected to any campaign have spent more than $8 million to bolster or, more often, to assail either Poliquin or Golden.
All told, the Poliquin and Golden camps are remarkably even in fundraising.
Between mid-September and mid-October, for all congressional candidates in Maine, the candidates and outside groups aired 2,790 television advertisements aiming to help the Democrats and 2,759 to boost the Republicans, according to the Wesleyan Media Project.
Nearly all of the ads, which cost $1.6 million, were related to the 2nd District race.
The biggest-spending outside group is a super PAC aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican. The Congressional Leadership Fund, which has relied heavily on the backing of Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, has pumped $2.4 million into the race to help Poliquin.
The Democratic-leaning Patriot Majority USA super PAC, whose donors are unknown, has shelled out $2 million to help Golden.
For the campaigns themselves, Poliquin raised $1.6 million from individual donors — with the average itemized donation totaling $2,398 — and collected almost $2 million from organizations that back him.
Golden raised $2.8 million from individual donors — who gave an average of $834 if they donated enough to be listed specifically — and pulled in $284,000 from organizations that support him.
In addition to those whose contributions were high enough to require the campaigns to list them by name — $200 or more — Poliquin picked up $40,000 from smaller donors; Golden collected $713,000.
Overall, Poliquin’s Federal Election Commission filings listed 654 individual donors through Oct. 23. Golden had 855.
A Sun Journal map showing where their donors live makes it easy to see that both candidates are pulling in money from across America, though Maine tops the list for individual donors.
Organizations that give, however, are headquartered throughout the nation, with the area in and around Washington, D.C., a hot spot.
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Top 10 donors trying to influence the outcome of Maine’s 2nd District race
Congressional Leadership Fund — $2.4 million
A super PAC aligned with the U.S. House Republican leadership.
Pro-Poliquin
Patriot Majority USA — $2 million
A super PAC that helps Democrats.
Pro-Golden
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — $1.2 million
A political organization that seeks to get Democrats elected to the U.S. House.
Pro-Golden
America First Action — $874,000
A super PAC helping candidates it considers favorable to President Donald Trump.
Pro-Poliquin
With Honor Fund — $630,000
A super PAC that supports Democratic and Republican military veterans running for office.
Pro-Golden
National Republican Campaign Committee — $426,000
A political organization that seeks to get Republicans elected to the U.S. House.
Pro-Poliquin
Patients For Affordable Drugs Action — $343,000
A super PAC that opposes pharmaceutical companies.
Pro-Golden
VoteVets.Org Action Fund — $271,000
An organization devoted to getting veterans elected.
Pro-Golden
New American Jobs Fund — $138,000
A super PAC that helps Democrats.
Pro-Golden
American Bankers Association — $125,000
A pro-banking organization.
Pro-Poliquin
Political contributions to U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, an Oakland Republican, and his Democratic challenger, Jared Golden of Lewiston.
Political donations to the leading candidates in Maine’s 2nd congressional district.
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