Dem donors give big to Chris Christie

Big national Democratic donors are showing their support for the Republican governor

Published June 3, 2013 1:08PM (EDT)

Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., has seen an influx of cash from big donors that typically donate to Democrats -- including from a hedge fund run by George Soros and major Obama donors -- according to records reviewed by the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

A few of the donors, from the Star-Ledger:

• John Doerr, a top Democratic fundraiser and venture capitalist in California, sent Christie the maximum $3,800 donation for the Republican primary this year. So did his wife. Federal records show the couple has given more than $1.2 million to national Democrats since 1997.

• Tim Mullen, a Chicago investor who gave more than $100,000 to [Rahm] Emanuel’s campaign for mayor in 2011 and bundled from $200,000 to $500,000 for Obama in 2008, has also sent Christie a maximum donation, as has his wife Alice. Mullen was already a Christie donor in 2009, state records show.

According to the records, Christie has raised a total of around $6.6 million, while his Democratic challenger Barbara Buono has brought in around $2.3 million.

Buono has been consistently trailing Christie by at least 20 points,  while Christie has enjoyed strong approval ratings, most recently in the 70 percent range, since Hurricane Sandy.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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2013 Elections Barbara Buono Chris Christie New Jersey Republicans