Groups affiliated with pro- and anti-gun control campaigns have begun pouring money into the political scene over the past month, as Election Day draws near.
According to filings with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, contributors have spent than $130,000 so far during the 2014 race.
Pro-gun groups have contributed more than $63,000, while anti-gun groups have contributed about $75,000.
Groups on both sides of the issue did not returned requests for comment.
Quinnipiac Univerisity Political Science Professor Scott McLean, who focuses on elections and campaigns, says Republican Tom Foley needs to be careful around the issue of gun control because some pro-gun groups may attempt to pull him to the right on an issue to which he hasn't spent much campaign time.
“Foley wants this to be a referendum on Gov. Dannel Malloy," McLean said. "He doesn’t want this to be a referendum on the gun law that Connecticut passed."
McLean said people in Connecticut who are very passionate about the gun issue are simply living up to their promises when it comes to contributions.
"The anti-gun control groups are fulfilling a promise or a threat that they made – 'If Connecticut passes these laws, we’re going to be working hard to defeat Dannel Malloy' – and I think the pro-gun control groups are simply trying to counter that,” McLean explained.
On the other side, McLean acknowledges that the gun issue isn't exactly an issue worth sparring over for either candidate.
“I think all of these groups coming into Connecticut has more to do with what happened before the election than the election we’re in now" McLean said.
