Candidates for governor were scrambling furiously to raise campaign cash before 2009 came to a close.

State law puts a $500 limit on the amount of money a person can give a candidate in one calendar year, so Thursday was the last chance in 2009 to give -- and for candidates to get it. People who give the maximum can donate another $500 next year before the election.

"I must collect all the campaign donations possible before midnight tonight ... once the current year donation period expires, it is gone for good," Republican candidate Ralph Samuels wrote in a last-minute appeal sent Thursday by mass e-mail. "If you wish to support my candidacy for governor, today is the best time to show that commitment."

Samuels, who is challenging Gov. Sean Parnell, has been aggressively raising money since he got into the race in December. Sponsors of his Dec. 16 fundraiser at the Corsair restaurant in downtown Anchorage included Northrim Bank chairman Marc Langland, former state House Speaker Gail Phillips, Anchorage municipal budget chief Cheryl Frasca, former attorney general David Marquez, and John Shively, chief executive of the group seeking to develop the Pebble mine project. The Samuels campaign said more than 300 people attended the fundraiser.

State legislators at the event included current House Speaker Mike Chenault, Rep. Mike Hawker, Sen. Lesil McGuire and Sen. Charlie Huggins. Samuels held another campaign fundraiser Tuesday at the La Mex restaurant in South Anchorage, attended by Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, House Majority Leader Kyle Johansen, Rep. Kurt Olson and Rep. Charisse Millett. Sponsors included Chuck Spinelli, owner of Spinelli Homes, one of the area's largest home builders. The Samuels campaign has also had fundraisers in Ketchikan and Fairbanks.

None of the campaigns will publicly disclose their fundraising totals until they are required to do so by the state in February but Samuels spokesman Willis Lyford said the campaign has raised a "good chunk" in its month of existence. Samuels and Anchorage attorney Bill Walker are challenging Parnell in the August Republican primary.

Parnell had a 72 percent positive rating in a statewide poll conducted Nov. 20-21 by Hays Research of Anchorage.

Parnell recently switched out campaign managers and his campaign Web site isn't nearly as developed as those of the candidates who are seeking his job. But his new campaign manager, Michelle Toohey, said the effort is rolling.

"The last week's been the end-of-the-year scramble to get money in the door before 2009 is over," Toohey said.

Parnell had a Wednesday fundraiser in Fairbanks. That followed a Dec. 5 fundraiser that the governor held in North Pole. Sponsors included Chena Hot Springs Resort owner Bernie Karl, Sen. John Coghill and former Sen. Gene Therriault. Therriault left the Legislature to take a job as an energy adviser to Parnell, who then appointed longtime state House member Coghill to take Therriault's seat in the Senate. Toohey said she wasn't worried about the list of notables coming to the Samuels fundraisers.

"You'll find a lot of the folks who are going to Ralph's fundraisers are also coming to the governor's fundraisers," she said.

Parnell has fundraisers planned for Soldotna, Juneau, the Mat-Su and Anchorage before the legislative session begins on Jan. 19. His Anchorage event will be at the home of perpetual fundraiser Bill Sheffield, the former Democratic governor who is the current director of the Port of Anchorage.

Walker, an Anchorage attorney, is advertising a Jan. 15 fundraiser in Turnagain and wrote Wednesday on his Facebook page that "mine is a grass roots campaign where every contribution is highly valued. A supporter in rural Alaska without means to donate money, made an afghan she hoped could be used in an auction but I will never be able to part with it! If you are able to make a contribution of any amount, pls do so at my website."

Democratic candidate for governor Hollis French held a "Tuxedoes to Carhartts" fundraiser at an Anchorage home on New Year's Eve, advertising a live band, dance floor and a suggested campaign donation of $100. His Web site announced that "as 2009 draws to a close, we are making one last big fundraising effort."

French also had a Juneau fundraiser Dec. 11 at the home of former Sen. Mike Miller that included Sens. Albert Kookesh and Dennis Egan, Juneau mayor Bruce Botelho and Jim Ayers, who was chief of staff under former Gov. Tony Knowles.

In the Anchorage Democratic primary, French will face Ethan Berkowitz and Bob Poe, both of whom are also out seeking cash for their campaigns.

Berkowitz, a former state House minority leader and a veteran of previous state campaigns for lieutenant governor and Congress, has had a fundraising effort that included an event with Anchorage Assembly Chairman Patrick Flynn.

Poe had fundraisers as the year drew to a close, including at private homes and one at the Anchorage restaurant Ginger. It was hosted by the restaurant's owners, with co-hosts including Olympic snowboarding medalist Rosey Fletcher.