By David Farmer,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe has raised almost $3 million to defend her seat in November.

Her challengers haven’t. To say the least.

In campaign finance disclosures filed July 15, which includes fundraising and expenditures through June 30, incumbents have far exceeded their opponents.

Democratic Senate nominee Jean Hay Bright has raised just more than $43,118 and independent candidate William Slavick has not filed a report, giving Snowe about a 60-to-1 dollar advantage.

The news isn’t much better for the challengers in Maine’s two congressional districts.

In the 1st District, incumbent Democrat Tom Allen reported raising more than $650,000 through June 30. His Republican challenger, state Rep. Darlene Curley of Scarborough, raised about $60,000. Independent, anti-war candidate Dexter Kamilewicz raised $23,000.

In the 2nd District, incumbent Democrat Mike Michaud has raised almost $547,000 while his challenger Scott D’Amboise, a former selectman from Lisbon Falls, has raised $14,000.

Snowe raised more than $1.7 million from individual contributions and more than $1 million from political action committees or other committees. So far this election cycle, she’s spent $986,000 and has $2.2 million in cash on hand.

Hay Bright’s contributions have come almost exclusively from individuals, who have accounted for $25,268 of her fundraising. She has received one $2,100 gift from a PAC, called ImpeachPac, which favors the impeachment of President George Bush. She listed candidate loans of $13,158.

Hay Bright has spent $43,269 and reported $119 in cash.

Of Allen’s contributions, $442,000 have come from individuals and $207,000 from PACs or other committees. He’s spent $426,000 and has $324,000 in cash.

Curley has received $37,406 from individuals and $6,000 from PACs. She has loans of $13,500. She has spent $39,789 and has $19,776 in cash.

Kamilewicz has raised all of his money from individual contributions and reports no debt. He has spent $10,543 and has $15,504 in the cash.

Michaud has relied heavily on contributions from PACs so far. He’s raised $374,000 from the political groups during this election cycle and $164,000 from individuals. He’s spent $251,000 and has $331,000 on hand.

If there’s a silver lining for D’Amboise, it’s that he doesn’t report debt. The challenger reports spending $6,043 so far, leaving him with $7,841.

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is not on the ballot this year, but she has still raised almost $177,000 during the 2005-06 election cycle. Almost $102,000 came from individuals and almost $70,000 from PACs. She’s spent about $77,000 and has cash on hand of $340,000.

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