LEWISTON – Money, like water, finds a way.

Despite state law intended to reduce the influence of money on elections, cash is finding its way into Maine’s electoral system.

Campaign finance reports due Tuesday showed the extent that the national political parties are involved in the Maine gubernatorial election and the effectiveness of state parties in raising campaign contributions.

The Republican Governors Association reported spending more than $400,000 in Maine between July 19 and Sept. 30.

The Democratic Governors Association, during the same period, contributed $133,000 to the Maine Democratic Party. In previous reporting periods, the association reported giving another $100,000 to the party.

The Republican Governors Association has been running advertisements intended to support candidate Chandler Woodcock, while the Democratic Party has been doing the same thing for incumbent Gov. John Baldacci.

The money spent by the two Washington, D.C.-based groups has exceeded the initial $400,000 provided to Woodcock, Green Independent Pat LaMarche and independent Barbara Merrill, who qualified for public financing of their campaigns.

Those expenditures were challenged by LaMarche, who argued that the ads should trigger matching funds for she and Merrill. The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices ruled against LaMarche, who has appealed the decision to Superior Court. A hearing on the appeal is scheduled for Oct. 18.

The two major state parties have also been busy raising and spending money for the election cycle, although much of that money has been directed toward lower ballot races and party building activities.

The Maine Democratic Party reported raising $533,000, while spending $646,000. The party also reported unpaid obligations of almost $165,000.

The Republican Party was less prolific, raising and spending about $124,000.

The Green Independent Party reported raising $3,369 and spending $1,316.

Democratic Gov. John Baldacci is running a privately financed campaign. Baldacci has raised more than $400,000, triggering matching funds for his opponents. As of Sept. 29, the three had received between $4,000 and $6,000 each. The next report from Baldacci’s campaign is due Oct. 17.