Note: For those who can’t get enough of political money stuff, the campaign finance reports for 2012 are now available online thanks to Your Secretary of State Jim Condos. They’re all PDF’s, so not searchable. But they’re there for your browsing pleasure.

Today was the final deadline before Election Day for campaign finance reports. And as befits such an august occasion, Vermont’s political media was on hand in force at the Secretary of State’s office. Oh, the assembled brain power sent bursts of blue lightning around the room, I tell you. Anne Galloway of VTDigger, Stuart Ledbetter of Channel 5, Dave Gram of the AP, Peter Hirschfeld of the Vermont Press Bureau, John Dillon of VPR, Nancy Remsen of the Freeploid, and a yong woman sitting behind me whose name I failed to get. And who else… oh yeah, Paul Heintz of Seven Days.

And me.

Well, let’s get to the numbers, shall we? Take it from the top:

Super PACs: As I reported earlier, Lenore Broughton has bankrolled Vermonters First to the tune of nearly $650,000. And VF Treasurer, spokesperson, and Keeper Of The Vault, Tayt Brooks (International Man of Mystery) has spent a big chunk of that money, mainly on TV and Internet ads. One item of note: $17,500 to Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican polling and research firm. Methinks the Tayter is looking to target his money on the races he can make a difference in. Bad news for Randy Brock, that.

Meanwhile, the liberal group Priorities PAC reported almost identical fundraising and spending in the past month — about $15K each — leaving it with about 10K in the bank. Lisa Steele has kicked in $20,000 of Priorities’ loot. Other donors include outgoing state Senator Hinda Miller ($1,000), State Senator Bill Carris ($1,000) and David Coates ($2,000). Priorities has spent most of its funds on TV ads; $1,810 at WCAX, and nearly $12,000 for Comcast cable.

Governor: As I reported earlier, Peter Shumlin eased off the throttle a bit, raising “only” $172,000, while spending less than $33,000. He goes into the last three weeks of the campaign with over a million dollars in the bank. Compare that to Randy Brock, who took in a paltry $45,000 this period while spending $177,000. He has about a hundred thousand dollars in cash on hand — one-tenth as much as Shumlin. And it’d be even worse if he hadn’t loaned his own campaign $300,000. He’ll have to open his wallet wide if he wants to stay competitive in the homestretch.

(Bear in mind that many campaign expenditures may have already been made for things that will happen in the next three weeks, so the “cash on hand” figures may be a bit misleading.)

I’ll also take a moment here to point out that Vermont’s Costliest Consultant, Darcie Johnston, took almost $11,000 of Randy’s money in the past month for her role in piloting the Brock campaign into the nearest iceberg. If she had any shame whatsoever, she’d take a voluntary pay cut. Here’s a suggestion: after the election, she should refund a portion of her salary based on the margin of Brock’s defeat. If he loses by 20 points, she gives him a 20% refund. Fair?

After the jump: Good news for Beth Pearce (and she’ll need it), a cash crunch in the Auditor’s race, and more.

Lieutenant Governor. Incumbent Phil Scott raised $53,000 this period, for a campaign total of $139,000. He’s spent a total of $117,000, leaving him with a modest cash hoard. But still more than challenger Cass Gekas, who raised a bit under $12,000 this time for a campaign-to-date total of $39,000. And she’s already spent over $30,000, so not much left for a last-minute push.

Treasurer. The wise guys still call incumbent Beth Pearce a political newbie, but she sure knows how to push the fundraising buttons. She’s taken in more cash than any statewide candidate not running for Governor. She garnered a truly impressive $53,400 this time around, for a campaign total of $183,000. She’s spent $138,000 so far, so she’s still got a nice kitty for those last-minute ad buys.

And she’ll need it, with Vermonters First trying to paint a target on her back. Indeed, if it wasn’t for Lenore Broughton, Republican challenger Wendy Wilton would be falling far short of the mark. She raised less than $25,000 in this period for a campaign total of $74,000. She’s already spent $70,000, leaving her with only about $4,000 in the bank. That’s a sad commentary on the fundraising prowess of the Republican hierarchy, considering that they touted her as an especially strong member of their ticket.

But the VTGOP’s shortcomings hardly matter for Wilton. Her campaign depends entirely on Broughton’s largesse. And if you think that’s a healthy state of affairs, then I’d like to interest you in the purchase of a slightly-used golden dome.

Auditor. Neither Vince Illuzzi nor Doug Hoffer set the world on fire this time. Illuzzi raised $10,600 this period, for a campaign total of $75,000. And he’s already spent $70,000 of that. Hoffer, meanwhile, raised a bit less than $15,000, for a campaign total of $47,000. He’s spent $34,000 so far, which means he has more cash on hand than Vince.

But again, that hardly seems relevant since Vermonters First has poured a lot of money into advertisements on Vince’s behalf.

Attorney General. If Bill Sorrell had a credible opponent, he might be in real trouble. He spent a lot of money fending off the primary challenge of TJ Donovan, and has failed to replenish his campaign fund since August 28. In the past month he raised $12,000 and spent nearly $20,000. For the campaign to date, fundraising totals $131,000 — and expenditures total $140,000. Yikes.

Then there’s ol’ Six Teats, Jack McMullen. His fundraising continued to flounder, but he finally opened his own checkbook to the tune of $144,000 in loans to his campaign. But he’s already spent pretty much all that cash; he reported expenditures of $150,000 in the past month. Even with his massive personal loan, I estimate his cash-on-hand to be about $23,000. Which is more than Sorrell, certainly; but will it be enough to erase his longstanding reputation as a political joke? I don’t think so.

Secretary of State. Poor Jim Condos. None of the assembled scribes even bothered to ask for his report. But I don’t think he minds, considering that he’s the nominee of all three major parties plus at least one of the minor ones. As I’ve said before, it’s Jim’s world. We’re all just living in it.

Finally, just for shin splints and giggles, I asked for the Democrats’ and Republicans’ finance reports.

The VTGOP continues its financial funk. It took in $3,500 in donations last month. That’s $1500 from FairPoint Communications, and $2,000 from a Lavern Gaynor of Naples, Florida. Not a sou from a Vermonter, sad to say. The party didn’t spend any money last month. For the campaign to date, the VTGOP has raised almost $54,000 and spent $49,000. Buddy, can you spare a dime for a formerly proud party that’s down on its luck?

The VT Dems raised $7500 this time (including $1500 from FairPoint, clearly playing both sides of the street) for a campaign total of $128,000. The Dems have spent $132,000, but somehow I don’t think they’re too worried about covering their costs.

Especially when their Governor has a million buckaroonies in his pocket, and no real need for any of it.

There you go. The next campaign finance deadline is November 15, safely after the election. I will be looking forward to that date, if only to find out exactly how much money Lenore Broughton will have spent on her attempt to single-handedly buy an elective office or two.