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Public Money Gives Progressive Fundraising Edge

WAMC/Pat Bradley

Public campaign financing has left Vermont's incumbent Republican lieutenant governor in an unusual position — trying to catch up in the campaign money race against a Progressive challenger.

Former Progressive lawmaker Dean Corren qualified for public financing by more than meeting the requirement that he raise $17,500 in donations of no more than $50 by June. That qualified him for public financing that brought him up to $200,000.

Incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott says he'll match or exceed that total by the November election.

But Scott says he has misgivings about public campaign financing, because it requires taxpayers to chip in to support candidates they may not like.

Corren says it works out to 29 cents per Vermonter, and that public financing removes big money from politics.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.