Robert Pittenger received $1.5 million in contributions by mid-April of 2008.

The candidate for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor raised $274,404 in the first quarter of 2008, according to his most recent campaign finance report.

Major donors included Raleigh developer Justus Ammons, Raleigh attorney Gene Boyce, Charlotte surgeon Todd Crowley, Eagle Limited chairman Buster Glosson and Holt Hosiery chairman Ralph Holt.

He received $9,250 from political action committees, including Time Warner Cable N.C. PAC, Presbyterian Anesthesia Associates PAC, Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants PAC, and Parker Poe PAC.

In addition, he received a $500,000 loan from his wife, Suzanne, in December. 

He spent on $969,460 office expenses, mailing, postage, Web site maintenance, consulting, and staff salaries in the first quarter of the year.

That left him with $331,809 in cash on hand.