Back to the Money

Presumptive state Sen. Jennifer Flanagan closed her primary campaign against former Rep. Brian Knuuttila by raising over $14,000 in campaign contributions in the first half of September, according to campaign finance reports filed this week.

Going into September, Flanagan, who blew out Knuuttila in the preliminary election, had spent over $72,000 on her race, and had over $20,000 in the bank. Knuuttila had spent nearly $40,000, and had a slight advantage with $23,000 in the bank.

But in the first few weeks of the month, with the election looming, Flanagan raised almost all of the $15,205 she took in from the end of August through the middle of October. In the meantime, Knuuttila raised about one-tenth of Flanagan's amount, with $1,550.

Those amounts do not include over $20,000 in independent expenditures on Flanagan's behalf by a number of special interests groups. Knuuttila did not benefit from any independent expenditures, according to Office of Campaign and Political Finance reports.

In the meantime, Fitchburg Rep. Stephen DiNatale, who does not face opposition on the ballot, reported little campaign activity. He received five donations from officials from Charles George Trucking Co., all maximum $500 donations. He took in no other money during the latest reporting period. DiNatale spent $1,240, on donations to local groups and one donation to Jamie Eldridge, a fellow lawmaker who is running for state Senate.