AUGUSTA, Maine — As Democratic incumbent Chellie Pingree’s campaign announced Thursday that it had topped the $1 million fundraising mark, Jon Courtney, her Republican challenger in Maine’s 1st Congressional District, launched a television ad that criticizes her for failing to “keep money out of politics.”
The ad, which shows footage of Pingree at a 2009 conference saying “having to attach yourself to people with money” is no way to run a democracy, marks a distinct change in tenor for the 1st District race. Previous ads from each campaign focused on their candidate’s’ achievements rather than attacking the opponent.
Courtney and Pingree maintained a largely cordial tone during a televised debate Oct. 18 at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
The new Courtney ad notes that Pingree married wealthy hedge fund manager and Democratic Party donor S. Donald Sussman in 2011. Earlier this year, Sussman bought Maine Today Media, which publishes three daily newspapers in the state. Titled “The Problem,” Courtney’s ad accuses Pingree’s family of “buying the news media and influencing elections here in Maine.”
Keith Herrick, Courtney’s campaign manager, said the campaign spent $21,000 to run the ad “in targeted locations on major local news sources.” In a release announcing the ad, Herrick said Sussman “has spent $4.5 million over the last 10 years to push his agenda, over $1 million of which has been spent while engaged or married to Pingree, yet she insists that she wants to take the money out of politics.” Herrick also states that 97 percent of Courtney’s donations come from Maine.
“It’s sad that state Sen. Courtney has decided to attack Chellie and her family,” Pingree’s campaign manager Kate Simmons said. “The people of Maine deserve an honest discussion about how to improve the economy and create jobs, rather than nasty personal attacks.”
Pingree’s campaign issued a release reporting that its overall fundraising surpassed $1 million between Oct. 1 and 17. On a campaign finance disclosure statement filed Thursday, the Democrat, who is seeking a third two-year term representing Maine’s 1st District in the U.S. House, reported receiving $56,056 during that period.
In total, Pingree has raised $1,007,661 for this year’s election. She has maintained a huge lead at the polls and in campaign contributions throughout the race.
“Chellie’s grass-roots support continues to be tremendous,” Simmons said in a release announcing the fundraising accomplishment. “People from all over the state and beyond are supporting Chellie because they appreciate her willingness to stand up for the issues they care about.”
Pingree’s campaign also announced that it had purchased $50,000 in additional ad time between now and Election Day. With earlier ad buys, the campaign reports spending just less than $250,000 on ads designed to highlight Pingree’s constituent service and advocacy for Maine veterans.
The Democrat’s report lists $173,500 in cash on hand.
In the financial disclosure statement it filed Thursday to the Federal Election Commission, Courtney’s campaign reported raising $16,274 between Oct. 1 and 17. The Republican lists $121,596 in total receipts for the campaign.
The Courtney campaign has $30,852 in available cash, according to Thursday’s disclosure statement, the final fundraising report required by the FEC before the Nov. 6 election.
As of Friday morning, the FEC website showed no third-party independent expenditures on behalf of either candidate.
Contribution and spending records filed Oct. 15 for July 1 through Sept. 30 showed Pingree with a campaign coffers cache of almost 10 times that of Courtney. Polls show her with an advantage of at least 25 percentage points.
Courtney, of Springvale, serves as Maine Senate majority leader. He is making his first bid for federal elected office.
want to hear the REAL story about BIG money in politics since Citizen’s United?? Here it is, including pictures, that tell quite a story:
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/10/shadow-moneys-top-10-candidates.html
In a nut shell: nearly ALL of the BIG money comes from american crossroads and crosssroads GPS ($85 +million), in addition to the US Chamber And almost all of it had been used to OPPOSE D candidates. It’s really quite stunning to see in easy to read “pictures” /graghs— where and how the money is being spent. KING/Summers race is in the top 10 “contest ”
Pingree doesn’t even get a mention and is penney- ante in comparison!!!
Except for almost ALL of Pingree’s money comes from Mr Pingree laundered through his hundreds of investment firms and companies. Look at the top 10 donations to her campaign. He has a tie in some way financially to the companies.
I would have thought you’d have learned over at PPH that it’s pointless the argue with prettyfoolish. She/he’s one of the serial liars, name callers that caused the policy at PPH to be changed. Hopefully he/ she won’t cause the same problems here.
Agreed.
Poor Chellie…how can she hope to compete. :-(
And the Rs and their backers (ALEC, US CofC,etc.) keep money out of politics? I have a bridge AND a swamp for sale.
A Republican said!—“having to attach yourself to people with money”
WOW! Ain’t That the Kettle calling the Pot Black!
I have to agree with you there. Using politcal money to complain about political money.
“I’m aware of the irony of appearing on TV in order to decry it.” —Sideshow Bob
pingree,is a wacky as they come. this woman is everything that is wrong in politics. Her billionaire husband, sussman ,is dumping tons of money into the democratic party in a desperate attempt to get the dems control of this state again. The very last thing this state needs is to turn over control of this state over to the very people who screwed it up in the first place.
A candidate for today’s Republican party fusses about money in political campaign – that’s a good one!
Do people really think this women cares about them?
Do you really think any person running for office cares about people ?
Yes, I certainly do. And I know some of the best, as well.
Thats what they say but when they get in office it’s a whole different story . Look at lapage he said he was going to crate jobs he did all right for him family .
Laughable. No historical knowledge of American politics, or politics in general for that matter.
Ha! 1 Million dollars? She has that in her coffee can…