October 26, 2008 - 00:07
News: Maine

At $40K a day, Vegas continues casino push

 

Below: Details of the PAC report for Vote Yes on 2 for Maine

Click here for the full report.

 

In the 21 days included in the 11-day pre-general fundraising report, a Las Vegas backer has put $852,219 into promoting a casino in the state.

Olympia Gaming LLC is funding the Vote Yes on 2 for Maine effort, which would establish a resort casino in Oxford.

Since they took over the project Sept. 17, they have put $1.4 million into the project. They are the sole funder.

This makes the $349,259 coffers of its opponents, CasinosNO!, seem miniscule.

Most of the money has gone to advertising -- $435,125 in 21 days to numerous print, television and radio outlets, and $80,595 to CDM Communications in Portland for ad agency fees.

They have spent $24,350 blanketing the state with signs, and tens of thousands of dollars to various agencies for consulting services.

The Vote Yes on 2 for Maine campaign has scheduled a press conference Monday to announce new polling numbers, done by Critical Insights in Portland. They have paid this firm $62,762.

There are now five people getting paychecks from the PAC, including spokeswoman Pat LaMarche, a former gubernatorial candidate, who is earning $1,500 a week. Others are earning $600 a week.

The stats:

  • Total raised: Oct. 1 to Oct. 21 -- $852,219; Cycle -- $1.4 million
  • Total spent: Oct. 1 to Oct. 21 -- $726,641; Cycle -- $1.3 million
  • Cash on hand: $125,578

 

Money raised:

  • $852,219 Olympia Gaming Maine LLC, Las Vegas, Nevada

 

Money spent:

  • $321,440 Total for television advertising
  • $69,160 Total for radio advertising
  • $44,524 Total for print advertising
  • $80,595 CDM Communications, Portland, ad agency fees
  • $75,000 Atlantic Strategies, Fairfield, campaign consulting
  • $15,000 ROI Gaming and Hospitality, Marco Island, Fla., campaign and project development
  • $15,300 Salaries for five staff members
  • $15,331 Pyramid Associates, Fall River, Mass.
  • $10,000 Olympic Consulting (Stavros Mendros), Lewiston, sign maintenance and deployment
  • $62,762 Critical insights, Portland, polling
  • $14,350 Premium Graphicx, Houston, Texas, lawn signs
  •  

Jessica Alaimo is a PolitickerME.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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