Liberal leadership candidate Paul Martin is close to hitting the $2-million mark in campaign donations.

Mr. Martin, who is viewed as having a wide lead in the race to replace Prime Minister Jean Chrétien as Liberal Leader, released his most recent contributions to Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson on Friday.

From Nov. 7 to Dec. 31, contributions from fundraisers and special events for Mr. Martin totalled $809,650.21. Coupled with his last disclosure of $1.12-million from September to November, Mr. Martin has made almost $2-million for his leadership bid.

That amount does not include how much money he has collected in the trust, which he established more than four years ago for his leadership bid. Political observers believe the amount contained in the trust could be substantial.

Mr. Martin does not plan to reveal what is in the blind trust until 30 days before the November, 2003 Liberal leadership convention.

Among the cash donations was one for $1,000 from Rod Bryden, a longtime Liberal and owner of the Ottawa Senators hockey team which filed this week for bankruptcy protection.

Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, one of Mr. Martin's leadership rivals, was embroiled in controversy recently when he made a phone call to the chief executive of CIBC at Mr. Bryden's request to inquire about a proposed financing deal for the Senators.

That deal ultimately fell through.

The largest donation Mr. Martin received came from Harris Steel Limited, at $20,000. He also received more than $86,000 in in-kind contributions of time and effort donated to his campaign.

Other leadership hopefuls who disclosed their donations in July have revealed far lower campaign contribution amounts.

Industry Minister Allan Rock, who has been campaigning for years, revealed that he had raised $421,804. Mr. Manley had raised $171,950 and Heritage Minister Sheila Copps $54,489.

Mr. Martin is believed to have a wide edge over his fellow candidates in overall fundraising efforts.

Stephen LeDrew, the Liberal party president, has suggested campaign expenses for the leadership will likely be capped at between $3.5-million and $4-million.

But that is likely to include only the official campaign period, expected to begin next month and run to November — not any money spent to this point by any candidate.

With reports from Canadian Press