A Suffolk Superior Court judge has denied a motion to dismiss public corruption charges against former state treasurer Tim Cahill, paving the way for a trial.

Prosecutors say Cahill used a $1.8 million advertising campaign for the state lottery, which as treasurer Cahill oversaw, to boost his candidacy for governor in 2010. Cahill, who finished a distant third in the election, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of violating state ethics laws and procurement fraud.