Cory Booker raises $4.6M for Senate race

Catalina Camia | USA TODAY

Newark Mayor Cory Booker raised $4.6 million from April through June for the Senate race in New Jersey, his campaign said Thursday.

Booker's second-quarter fundraising haul now leaves him with $4.5 million in the bank, which would help pay for TV advertising in the expensive media markets of New York and Philadelphia. So far, Booker is the only candidate running TV ads in the special election to succeed the late Frank Lautenberg.

Booker has a strong double-digit lead over his Democratic rivals for his party's nomination, according to a Quinnipiac Poll released earlier this week. He has 52% support compared with 10% for Rep. Frank Pallone, his next closest rival. Rep. Rush Holt has 8% support, followed by Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver at 3%.

The Newark mayor reported contributions from more than 2,000 New Jersey residents, and more than 7,000 donors overall. Booker is well-known beyond his state because of his frequent TV appearances and presence on social media sites such as Twitter.

Primaries are Aug. 13. Republican Steve Lonegan has easily outpaced Alicia Eck in polling.

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