AUGUSTA, Maine - In the three-way race for Maine governor, the candidate that spent the least amount of money came out on top.
Final finance reports filed this week show that incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage spent just under $2 million over the course of the heated campaign.
Meanwhile, Democrat Mike Michaud spent more than $3 million in his unsuccessful bid to defeat LePage. Independent Eliot Cutler, who came in a distant third, spent just under $3 million.
Cutler pumped roughly $1.3 million of his own money into his second gubernatorial attempt.
Observers say that while the candidate with the most money often wins a traditional race, having three people in the mix changes the dynamic and puts less emphasis on money.
