Democratic Senate candidate Kenneth Lewis has received some help from one of the major heavy hitters in the Democratic Party.

Peter L. Buttenwieser of Philadelphia, a long-time Democratic fund raiser, gave Lewis $1,500 to Lewis, an attorney from Chapel Hill, who is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Richard Burr, according to Lewis' latest campaign report.

Buttenwieser is well known in Democratic circles as a big-time fund raiser, Rob Christensen reports. He is also a major donor having contributed about $3 million to the Democratic Party or Democratic candidates during the past decade, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Lewis met Buttenwieser during a fund raising trip to Philly.

Lewis faces Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and possibly other candidates in next May's Democratic primary.