If funds available are one of the key indicators of the direction a political race will take, then Democrats should be feeling good at this stage of the chase for the open Pennsylvania Supreme Court seat.

Democrat Dan McCaffery is maintaining a 4-to-1 advantage in cash on hand over Republican Carolyn Carluccio entering the summer.

McCaffery, who presently sits on the state’s Superior Court, raised more than $443,000 in cycle 3 from May 2 to June 5 and currently sits on nearly $409,000.

Carluccio, the president judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, raised nearly $182,000 during the same period and has approximately $108,000 on hand. Carluccio also has an outstanding debt of $25,000.

McCaffery picked up the majority of his funding through political action committees, including $250,000 from Committee for a Better Tomorrow – the political action committee of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association – and $150,000 from PA Judicial PAC. Smaller totals came from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 PAC ($5,000), Sprinkler Fitters Local 692 PAC ($2,500) and Roofers Local 30 Political Action Educational Fund ($2,500).

He also picked up checks from attorneys Michael Pansini ($10,000) and Ross Feller Casey ($5,000). McCaffery defeated Deborah Kunselman in the primary.

Carluccio went a different route, garnering just $55,000 from political committees and over $121,000 in other contributions. She received $28,000 from Moving PA Forward and $15,000 from Americans of Italian Heritage Council. Carluccio also picked up a $50,000 check from Delval Property Associates. She defeated Patricia McCullough in the GOP primary.

Democrats presently hold a 4-2 majority on the state’s highest court. The candidates seek to replace the late Max Baer on the bench.

The general election is set for Tuesday, November 7.