Despite a slew of negative publicity, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich continues to rake in cash in the race for L.A. County district attorney, according to campaign finance reports released late on Wednesday.

Trutanich has brought in $1.4 million in all, more than two-and-a-half times the total of his nearest rival.

But heading into Tuesday's primary election, the real battle is for second place and a spot in the November runoff. Judging by their fundraising totals, Chief Deputy Jackie Lacey is neck-and-neck with prosecutor Alan Jackson. And while Jackson has a slim advantage, Lacey has all the momentum.

Lacey has raised $529,000 — most of it recently. In the last four months, she brought in $310,000, which is more than she raised in all of 2011. A first-time candidate, Lacey got off to a bumpy start in 2011, and ultimately parted ways with her campaign manager and her top fundraiser.

Jackson, a Republican, got off to an earlier start and has raised slightly more money overall — a total of $567,000. But in the first four months of 2012, he raised $190,000, falling behind Lacey's pace.

Both are competing for the chance go head-to-head with Trutanich in the fall. Lacey has two main advantages over Jackson. She has the support of D.A. Steve Cooley, and she's a Democrat. (Democrats have a 51-23 registration advantage over Republicans in L.A. County.)

But Lacey also has a big problem. She'll have to share the Democratic vote with Danette Meyers. Lacey has urged voters on the left to unite behind her candidacy. But with Meyers in the race, it's been a tough sell.

Meyers, a veteran prosecutor, has raised just $164,000 in total, but she has the backing of the Democratic Party, as well as former D.A. Gil Garcetti and the Association of Deputy District Attorneys. Meyers has also distinguished herself as the only candidate who supports abolishing the death penalty.

If Lacey does manage to advance to the general election, she will need to replenish her coffers in a hurry. At the close of the last filing period, she had just $9,000 in her account. Jackson had $34,000, while Meyers had $20,000.

Trutanich is best prepared for the fall. He raised $437,000 in the first four months of 2012, and is leading the pack with $365,000 in the bank.

Prosecutors Bobby Grace and John Breault are also in the running. Grace raised $83,000 in total, and has $9,500 in the bank. Breault hasn't filed a finance report.

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