Candidates for open House seat raising online money

Dean Scontras knows money means victory. This means seeking money from out of state, along with his opponents, for his bid for Congress.

Scontras, a Republican candidate for Maine's first congressional district, started fundraising on Slatecard.com. It's a new social networking and fundraising site for Republicans.

The seat Scontras is vying for is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, who is challenging Sen. Susan Collins in the 2008 Senate race.

Scontras, a businessman from Eliot, calls himself a "Reagan Republican." He said he wants to bring ideas to the table that unite social conservatives, fiscal conservatives and strong national security conservatives. He said he supports smaller government, fewer government regulations and stronger immigration laws.

In two weeks Scontras has earned $1,670 from 10 contributors on the site, an average of $167 each. Fans have given him virtual "badges" for his support of school choice, pro-life, securing the borders, Social Security reform and tax reform.

According to third-quarter fundraising reports, Scontras was the leading Republican fundraiser for the seat with $101,060.

Slatecard was formed this year and operates as an independent, nationally registered political action committee. It is the right's response to ActBlue, a Democratic site with the same goal. ActBlue was formed in 2004.

Scontras said the founders of Slatecard approached him and asked if he wanted to participate. All of his online fundraising is now being routed through Slatecard.

Another GOP candidate for the seat, Charlie Summers of Scarborough, is listed on Slatecard but has not yet raised any dollars on the site. Summers is currently on active duty in Iraq.

The five Mainers vying for the Democratic nomination are all registered on ActBlue.

-Chellie Pingree of North Haven, a former Senate Majority Leader and president of Common Cause, has raised $170,590 through 494 supporters, at an average of $345 a person.

-Ethan Strimling of Portland, a state senator, has raised $35,505 with 131 supporters, an average of $271 each.

-Michael Brennan of Portland, a former state legislator, has raised $22,160 with 156 supporters, an average of $142 each.

-Mark Lawrence of Kittery, the district attorney for York County, has raised $12,085 with 50 supporters, an average of $241 each.

-Adam Cote of Sanford, a lawyer and Bosnia veteran, has raised $1,808 with 25 supporters, an average of $72 each.

Pingree is leading the race in terms of fundraising. On ActBlue, supporters laud her as someone who can bring control to the war in Iraq and bring campaign finance reform.

Dollars brought in through ActBlue make up about one-third of what Pingree has received. According to the third-quarter reports, she had 1,900 total individual contributors, and 873 of them were Mainers.

Like Scontras, Pingree said all those visiting the campaign site, and wanting to make a donation, are redirected to ActBlue.

In the Senate race, Tom Allen has raised $51,267 on ActBlue through 1,162 supporters. Susan Collins has raised $10 with one supporter, though she has done better on fundraising overall.