Brewer quoted in MPBN, spending on U.S House seat
Mark Brewer, political science professor at the University of Maine, was quoted in an MPBN article titled, “Potential 2nd District Rematch on Track to Shatter State Fundraising Records.”
Brewer believes that spending reports are still a good measure of progress for a candidate’s success. “These numbers still tell us, in many ways, what they told us in a pre-Citizens United world.”
Early and robust fundraising sends a strong signal to supporters about the candidate’s viability and could also discourage potential primary challengers from making bids, according to Brewer.
“Being able to raise money early and at a healthy clip does kind of demonstrate viability and the strength of a candidate,” Brewer says. “It’s a signal for people with deep pockets to say, ‘Well OK, they’re viable, so I’m not going to be throwing my money away if I step in here and do that.’”