Financial support growing for New Jersey governor’s presidential run

With the 2016 presidential election fever gathering momentum in the United States, several influential donors have thrown their financial weight behind New Jersey governor Chris Christie, one of several candidates vying for the Republican nomination.

The Washington DC publication Politico reported Friday that a super PAC (political action committee) backing Christie received $11 million dollars, including a million dollars from former Reebok CEO Paul Fireman, who is planning a $4.6 billion casino in Jersey City if state voters approve a constitutional amendment to allow gambling outside of Atlantic City….something Christie has committed to letting New Jersey voters decide.

Another donor to Christie’s PAC is Las Vegas casino mogul Stephen Wynn, who gave $25,000, whilst hedge fund manager Steve Cohen and his wife Alexandra gave a combined $2 million.

Another major donor was Quicken Loans chairman Daniel Gilbert, who gave $750,000, and Home Depot founder Ken Langone, who has been one of Christie’s biggest backers, gave $250,000, along with a further $100,000 donated by Anheuser-Busch heir August Busch.

Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman and Christie’s brother Todd donated $100,000 each, and wrestling entrepreneur Linda McMahon, who ran twice for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut, donated $250,000.

Politico reports that George Harms Construction, which in 2014 had more than $100 million in contracts with several New Jersey state agencies, gave $25,000, and Ferreira Construction, which made more than $34 million from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority in 2014, gave $100,000.

Public Service Enterprise Group gave $250,000.

The New York Times has also just published an updated list of donations to presidential candidates which claims that Christie has also received $300,000 from Complete Medical Project Management, and that his total support thus far has reached $14 million.

To put that in perspective, the newspaper has published details of other candidates, showing that at present Republican Jeb Bush is leading the funding race on $120 million, with Democrat Hillary Clinton chasing him on $66.4 million and Republican Ted Cruz in third on 52.5 million.

Arch anti-online gambling Republicans on the list are Marco Rubio ($42 million) and Lindsey Graham ($6.6 million)

The full article can be read here:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/election-2016-campaign-money-race.html?_r=0

But remember, it’s early days yet and more serious money will undoubtedly be donated…in past elections the Adelson family has reportedly thrown up to $150 million dollars behind candidates of their choice.

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