Patrick filled coffers in February

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval L. Patrick raised more than $305,000 last month, according to his campaign. That exceeds the amount raised in February by his primary challenger, Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, who took in almost $250,000 despite suffering political setbacks.

Reilly saw his pick for lieutenant governor, state Representative Marie St. Fleur, withdraw from the race after reports that she had been delinquent on federal and city taxes. Reilly went on to lose the Feb. 4 Democratic caucuses to Patrick by a substantial margin.

One Reilly adviser said the campaign is pleased with its tally for February, given the publicity of the last month.

''I think it's a very positive sign that, given the month we've had, our fund-raising numbers are as strong as they are," said the adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Reilly's campaign continues to have far more money on hand than Patrick's: $3.9 million to Patrick's $800,000.

Libby DeVecchi, a Patrick spokeswoman, said in a statement that donors to the Patrick campaign are ''using this campaign to check back into community and civic life."

''Through Deval's campaign they are making an investment in their communities and the Commonwealth," she said.