Sunjournal.com

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

PORTLAND (AP) - Republican Sen. Susan Collins has kept her fundraising advantage as both she and Democratic opponent Tom Allen raked in a little more than $1 million apiece in the latest quarter as overall contributions soared to new highs.

Altogether, the two candidates have raised more than $11 million, easily topping Maine’s previous campaign record for $8 million spent in the 2002 election in which Collins defeated Democratic challenger Chellie Pingree.

Collins kept her cash-on-hand advantage of about $2 million over Allen. Collins has $5.1 million cash on hand, while Allen has $3.1 million cash on hand, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission covering the second quarter ending June 30.

As of June 30, Collins had raised $6.6 million while Allen had raised $4.7 million, according to the FEC filings.