PORTLAND — Republican Charlie Summers has seen a sizable surge in campaign donations in recent months as the heated race for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat draws more attention from voters and national interest groups.

Yet even with the surge, Summers still trails behind independent Angus King, who continues to lead his Republican opponent in the polls as well.

Summers’ campaign reported raising roughly $507,000 between July 1 and Sept. 30, ending the quarter with $189,000 left to spend. That is up from $149,000 raised during the previous quarter. To date in this election, Summers has raised roughly $746,000, according to the campaign and finance reports.

King’s campaign had not released his quarterly figures as of Friday night. But King had already raised nearly $900,000 as of the end of June.

Congressional candidates are required to file their full quarter campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission by Monday.

Representatives for Democrat Cynthia Dill said they were still compiling the report and did not release any figures on Friday. During the last filing period, Dill’s fundraising total was well below King and Summers.

Yet even the baseline data released by the campaigns on Friday shows that political organizations from outside the state are out-spending the campaigns by huge margins in the race. Those political action groups and nonprofits are barred under federal law from collaborating with campaigns.

According to the FEC’s website, outside groups spent $3.9 million on Maine’s Senate race as of this week. The heaviest hitters included:

• *The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has spent roughly $840,000 to oppose King. That total does not include money on a third anti-King ad just launched by the Chamber, however.
• The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has spent $1 million targeting King or supporting Summers.
• Americans Elect, which despite being the newest outside group to engage in the Maine race has already spent more than $800,000 of an anticipated $1.7 million to support King.
• The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which has spent more than $700,000 to oppose Summers.

In a prepared statement, the Summers campaign claimed the surge in donations — half of which were under $200 — was another sign of the Republican’s momentum heading into the final weeks.

“The more Mainers learn about Angus King’s financial mismanagement as governor and questionable dealings in the wind business, the more his support shrinks,” said Lance Dutson, Summers’ campaign manager. “And the more Charlie meets with working people across Maine the more they realize that a small businessman who shares their principles and priorities is the best person to cut spending, keep taxes low, and balance budgets in Washington.”

Kevin Miller– 317-6256

kmiller@mainetoday.com