{"id":59453,"date":"2012-10-17T11:32:48","date_gmt":"2012-10-17T15:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/?p=59453"},"modified":"2017-02-22T17:09:22","modified_gmt":"2017-02-22T22:09:22","slug":"press-herald-baughman-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2012\/10\/17\/press-herald-baughman-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Herald turns to Baughman for insight into Senate race fundraising"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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.<\/p><\/div>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n