AUGUSTA — Bruce Poliquin and Les Otten appear to be leading the money chase as candidates for Maine governor who are raising private campaign dollars faced a deadline today to report their donations and spending for the June 8 primary.

Poliquin, one of seven Republicans seeking their party’s nomination, reported total cash contributions of more than $600,000. Otten, who is also a Republican, reported that he has raised $106,000, while lending his campaign another $700,000.

“I couldn’t be happier with the support our campaign has received,” said Poliquin. “It means we will be very competitive on June 8 and have the resources necessary to reach voters.”

Poliquin said that with in-kind contributions, he’s raised more than $860,000. Records show his campaign has spent more than $456,000, and that he’s made substantial donations to his own campaign, including $100,000 on April 20.

Otten said he was pleased with his fundraising efforts and “proud that I am able to use my own hard-earned dollars vs. the hard-earned dollars of the taxpayers to fund my candidacy.”

Rival Steve Abbott said he’s raised just under $300,000, Matt Jacobson $150,000 and Paul LePage $106,000. LePage also reported a $111,000 loan to his campaign. William Beardsley had not yet filed reports by mid-afternoon today. The filing deadline was midnight.

In the Democratic race, Steve Rowe reported raising about $424,000 through April 20, while Rosa Scarcelli raised nearly $324,000.
The two other Democrats in the race, Libby Mitchell and Pat McGowan, are receiving public campaign money through the Maine Clean Election Act, as is Republican Peter Mills.

Today’s campaign spending reports were due a day after a fifth Democratic candidate, John Richardson, dropped out of the race after failing to meet requirements for Clean Election funding.