Follow the dollar in NC politics

Candidates for state office in North Carolina raised more than $98 million for the 2008 campaign, according to the Web site Follow the Money.org. Here's a link to the N.C. part of that site.

In non-judicial races, candidates raised $26.3 million more than in the previous general election -- most of it in the governor's race last year.

Mike Wessler, communications director for the organization, passes along this information:

* Non-judicial state-level candidates in North Carolina raised $80.9 million in 2008, $26.3 million more than they raised in 2004

* Gubernatorial candidates received $22.9 million of the extra $26.3 million raised in 2008. Candidates for governor received $19.2 million in 2004, compared with $42.1 million in 2008

* Contributions to legislative and statewide candidates remained relatively level in 2008. Candidates for the House and Senate received $30 million in 2008, compared to $28.1 million in 2004. Candidates for other statewide offices received $8.1 million in 2008, compared with $7.4 million in 2004.

The site also notes that the largest contributor was the N.C. Democratic Party with $6.6 million in contributions.

But the largest single contributors were former state Sen. Robert Pittenger, R-Mecklenburg, an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor last year, with nearly $3.3 million in contributions, followed by former Sen. Fred Smith, R-Johnston, an unsuccessful candidate for governor, with more than $2.9 million in contributions.

There's a lot of information on that site. Give it a look.