Will independent groups backing Jerry Brown raise the millions promised?

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The independent political committee launched by the Democratic Governors Assn. to boost Jerry Brown’s gubernatorial chances has so far been slow to rake in the cash. The group is reporting just $200,000 in initial campaign funds Monday, the deadline for candidates and campaign committees to report fundraising and spending figures through mid-March.

The money comes almost exclusively from one donor: the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The Democratic Governors Assn. itself has given about $500 to the committee.

The group has already spent about two-thirds of the money. More than $133,000 has been paid to two vendors -- a Washington, D.C.- based political consulting firm and a Web design company for the group’s website. Democratic Governors Assn. spokeswoman Emily DeRose says the report just reflects the beginning of the group’s fundraising efforts.

‘This is an early investment in an effort that we see paying dividends for us,’ DeRose said. ‘We’ll have additional sources of funding as the campaign progresses.’

Monday’s reporting deadline offers the first glimpse at whether ‘independent expenditure’ groups such as the Democratic Governors Assn. and Level the Playing Field 2010 are actually on track to generate the millions in donations they say they are positioned to raise on Brown’s behalf.

You can see the association’s campaign report here.

-- Anthony York in Sacramento