Candidate’s Spending May Set Record

Senate candidate Jon Corzine has plowed another $5.8 million into his campaign, pushing his likely spending for the Democratic nomination to at least $31 million--a new national record.

The funding, disclosed late Friday in reports to the Federal Election Commission, makes it likely the former Wall Street executive will surpass the amount spent in California six years ago by Republican Michael Huffington. Huffington spent $30 million in his losing bid for Senate against Dianne Feinstein.

A report filed with the commission by Corzine showed he had spent $25 million as of May 17 and that his campaign had another $2.2 million in debts, contracts and bills yet to be paid.

The documents show that two days after the May 17 reporting date, Corzine wrote a check to his own campaign for $4.4 million, and followed that three days later with three more checks totaling $1.4 million.

That means he can spend at least $31 million if some of the extra money is needed to pay off those $2.2 million in debts. If the new money is not needed for the debts, the documents released Friday mean Corzine’s spending will hit $33 million or more by June 6.

Democratic primary opponent Jim Florio’s FEC report showed he had spent $1.9 million by May 17.

Each candidate’s report includes spending for 1999: $3.7 million by Corzine, $466,000 by Florio.

The unprecedented cash pouring out of Corzine’s campaign coffers has gone to all forms of advertising, from prime-time network television to fliers in the mailbox, the latest report shows.

Corzine also spent money on his fellow Democrats.

A spot examination of Corzine’s spending by the Associated Press shows gifts of cash totaling $309,000 to state and county Democratic organizations in April and May. They included donations of $25,000 to $30,000 to several major county committees that have no real primary fights of their own, but on whom Corzine is relying to rally the party faithful to the polls on June 6.

Florio has denounced these sorts of contributions as payoffs to win endorsement from Democratic leaders and a “hostile corporate takeover” of the Democratic Party. Corzine and the Democratic leaders getting the donations defend it as essential to build up the party.

The money tally comes along with a Quinnipiac College poll released Thursday giving Corzine an overwhelming lead over Florio, 56% to 30% among registered Democrats who said they were likely to vote, with 14% undecided.