Associate Professor of Politics John Baughman welcomes the audience to the Maine gubernatorial debate held at Bates on Oct. 27, 2010. Photograph by Rene Minnis.

With independent Angus King continuing to lead in fundraising for the U.S. Senate race in Maine, the Portland Press Herald turns to Associate Professor of Politics John Baughman for insight.

King raised $1.1 million in the past three months, more than double the combined totals of his challengers from the Republican (Charlie Summers) and Democratic (Cynthia Dill) parties.

One thing is clear, Baughman says: A much-anticipated campaign spending war for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe never materialized.

That’s because the major parties didn’t see the race as winnable after King, a former independent Maine governor, immediately jumped out to a big lead in the polls.

“If [the parties] don’t think the race is going to be close, they are probably going to put the money where they can make the most difference,” Baughman tells reporter John Richardson.

• View story from the Portland Press Herald, Oct. 16, 2012.