AUGUSTA, Maine - The election for Maine's 2nd Congressional District is more than 15 months away, but the two candidates who squared off against each other in November are wasting no time when it comes to fundraising.
According to the campaigns, Republican incumbent Congressman Bruce Poliquin has raised more than $1 million to date, while Democratic candidate Emily Cain is reporting contributions of nearly $290,000.
The potential rematch in 2016 could shatter the state's record for spending on a House seat. Last year, the showdown in the 2nd Congressional District eclipsed all records for spending on a U.S. House seat in Maine.
OpenSecrets.org reported that Poliquin's and Cain's individual fundraising efforts, and independent expenditures made on their behalf, came close to the $7 million mark.
Cain, who launched a renewed campaign in March, says she has raised a little more than $150,000 during the latest filing period. That brings her total to $288,000, with about $250,000 in cash on hand. She says she's ahead of where she was in fundraising this time last year.
"We are more than out-raising ourselves two-to-one, at this point in time, compared to the last campaign," Cain says. 'I'm looking at a list right now that has more than 1,400 individuals who have contributed to the campaign. Our average contribution last quarter was $93 - that means that we are building a grassroots operation that is on track to build the momentum that we need for 2016, and I am just so thrilled with the response that we're getting."
But it's quite likely that Poliquin is even more thrilled. Brent Littlefield is the Republican's campaign consultant, and he says Poliquin has raised more than $1.1 million to date, including more than $378,000 in the last filing period alone. And Poliquin is reporting nearly $950,000 in cash on hand, setting the stage for a potential rematch that could surpass 2014's spending record.
Littlefield says that's due, in part, to the unique geography of Maine's sprawling 2nd District that requires candidates to spend as though they were running a statewide race.
"I think it's important to look at what Susan Collins spent in her last re-election campaign, which was $5.5 million, and she has to run media statewide," Littlefield says. "This congressional district, the way it's shaped, you also have to run media statewide, so the TV advertising is part of it, and it will probably be an expensive race. And I think that, right now, Bruce Poliquin's in a good position to do well in it."
Many election analysts point out that in the aftermath of the landmark Citizens United case that blew the doors off limits on campaign spending by outside groups, what individuals can raise isn't as important as it once was because a wealthy contributor can create a political action committee overnight and pump in millions of dollars to elect or defeat a candidate.
But University of Maine Political Science Professor Mark Brewer says the spending reports are still a good measure. "These numbers still tell us, in many ways, what they told us in a pre-Citizens United world." Brewer says early and robust fundraising sends a strong signal to supporters about the candidate's viability and could also discourage potential primary challengers from making bids.
"Being able to raise money early and at a healthy clip does kind of demonstrate viability and the strength of a candidate," Brewer says. 'It's a signal for people with deep pockets to say, 'Well OK, they're viable, so I'm not going to be throwing my money away if I step in here and do that.' "
Both candidates are expected to file campaign reports with the Federal Elections Commission Wednesday.