The Latest Numbers Are In — And Incumbents Are Raking In The Money
WASHINGTON -Republican Brian Hamel announced last month that he will challenge Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Me., in the Pine Tree State ‘s second district this November. He will go up against an incumbent who, nine months before the election, already has raised more than $500,000, according to a recent report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Hamel is president and chief executive officer of the Loring Development Authority, a state authority that works to recreate jobs lost when Loring Air Force Base closed in 1994.
Hamel is just starting to raise money, while Michaud, a former state Senate president running for his second term in Congress, has more than $300,000 cash on hand, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit organization that monitors campaign finances.
The vast majority — 65 percent — of Michaud’s contributions came from political action committees, or PACs, the center reported. Labor PACs alone donated $123,000, business PACS contributed $86,000 and groups that target single issues gave Michaud $56,000, the center reported.
Michaud, who for 28 years was a mill worker at the Great Northern Paper Co., received the largest chunk of money from transportation unions, which gave him $43,500, according to the center. Michaud is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure, Small Business and Veterans’ Affairs Committees.
Industrial unions contributed $28,000; public-sector unions, $22,250; and building trade unions, $19,000.
“Clearly, this is a candidate relying on a lot of labor support,” said Sheila Krumholz, research director at the center.
In Michaud’s first congressional race in 2002, labor contributed $300,000 to his campaign.
Hamel meanwhile has begun to create a fundraising network, meeting with state House and Senate members, attending caucuses and calling people to raise money, he said in a phone interview. He is campaigning to improve the economy so that people in the second district can “continue to live where they love to live.”
Rep. Thomas H. Allen, D-Me, so far is unopposed in his reelection bid. Allen, who first was elected in 1996, raised more than $278,000 in 2003, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Between October and December, Allen received $54,000 in contributions and spent $61,000 to manage his campaign, the FEC reported.
Nearly 66 percent of Allen’s contributions came from individuals and 32 percent from political action committees, the center said. Labor is his biggest PAC supporter, having contributed $38,500; business PACs gave Allen more than $34,500.
Allen is a member of only one committee, Energy and Commerce, which Krumholz described as “a good money maker.”
“A lot of money is coming from labor, followed by lawyers and lobbyists, the traditional key supporters of Democratic candidates,” she said.
Allen received $15,000 from industrial unions, $9,500 from public-sector unions, $6,500 from transportation unions and $5,000 from building trade unions. He also received $18,500 from lawyers and law firms and $13,800 from retired people, according to the center.
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Me., is not up for reelection to her third term until 2006. But like all members of Congress, Snowe must start raising money early. She received more than $134,500 in 2003 and has $386,000 in the bank, according to FEC reports.
Snowe chairs the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and is a member of the Finance, Select Intelligence, and Commerce, Science and Transportation Committees. In the past, she has received significant contributions from financial and insurance companies, as well as from the Wish List, which backs Republicans who support abortion rights.
“Her numbers will be even greater for year end,” Krumholz said. “Snowe’s Finance Committee is going to be a huge draw.”
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me., was elected to her second, six-year term in 2002. She has raised $58,755 for a 2008 race and has more than $200,000 in her campaign account, the FEC reported. In 2003, political action committees gave her nearly $28,000, according to the FEC.
Collins chairs the Governmental Affairs Committee and is a member of the Armed Services, Special Aging and Joint Economic Committees.
