October 27, 2009 - 9:19am

Inside Edge

Corzine has spent $126 million running for office

By Wally Edge

Jon Corzine has now spent $126 million of his own money running for office, placing him second on the all-time self funder candidate list. He trails New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but has spent more personal funds running for office than two-time presidential candidates Ross Perot and Steve Forbes. The problem for Corzine is that despite all this money, his personal and job approval ratings continue to be upside-down, and independent polls generally don't show him breaking the 40% mark - although he has closed the gap in head-to-head polls with his Republican opponent and has a couple of polls that show him ahead in a race that remains too close to call.

Corzine's willingness to spend his own money on political career - between his three statewide campaigns, his divorce, and an economy he blames on George W. Bush - Corzine doesn't have the personal wealth he did after he helped take Goldman Sachs public a decade ago. But Republican Christopher Christie's larger war chest - the former U.S. Attorney has $2.9 million cash on hand for the final stretch, compared to Corzine's $412,410 cash on hand - is unlikely to make the governor nervous; Corzine is expected to keep on pace to substantially outspending his opponents.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.

Related topics: JON CORZINE, Michael Bloomberg, Steve Forbes, Ross Perot

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