N.J. Democrats have big funding edge over GOP

New Jersey Democratic legislative candidates have more than twice the money Republicans do in their campaign accounts as the parties begin the work of trying to seize control of the Legislature, according to a report released by the state Monday.

Democrats had $8.2 million in cash on hand, compared with the Republicans' $4 million.

There are few primaries this year, and much of the campaign money is expected to be spent on the fall elections, when both parties will fight over control of the Statehouse.

Democrats have a 24-16 edge in the state Senate and a 47-33 edge in the Assembly. Republicans want majorities in both houses so they can carry out Gov. Christie's cost-cutting agenda. Democrats want veto-proof majorities in both chambers so they can block some of Christie's actions, including cuts to Planned Parenthood services, said Democratic State Committee Chairman John Wisniewski, also a Middlesex County assemblyman.

Fund-raising for candidates of both parties was up 2 percent over the same period in 2007, according to the analysis by the Election Law Enforcement Commission released Monday.

Like 2007, the entire Legislature is up for election this year. But this time, the battlefield is different. All 80 Assembly members and 40 senators will run in new districts after the once-a-decade redrawing of legislative district lines to reflect growth or loss of population based on the U.S. Census.

Democrats are lapping Republicans in fund-raising as well. They raised $3.7 million to the Republicans' $1.9 million.

Among the top fund-raisers in South Jersey were State Sen. Donald Norcross (D., Camden) and Assemblyman Vincent Polistina (R., Atlantic).

Norcross has no primary opponent but is looking toward the general election and taking nothing for granted. He raised $390,000. Republicans have a primary there between George A. Gallenthin 3d and Keith Walker.

"With redistricting, although the district tends to trend Democratic, it was not as strong as it had been in years gone by," Norcross said. "And given the volatility of our elections in last two cycles, anyone sitting back expecting the same old thing can be in for a rude awakening."

Polistina is getting ready for one of the toughest general election races in the state. He plans to run for state Senate against Democratic state Sen. James Whelan in the district, which largely covers Atlantic County.

Polistina has raised $266,000 while Whelan has raised $105,000.

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