Capitol Alert: Whitman writes $15 million check for gubernatorial bid

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Capitol Alert

The latest on California politics and government

July 13, 2009

Whitman writes $15 million check for gubernatorial bid

In clash of two wealthy Silicon Valley titans, Meg Whitman has just upped the ante - by $15 million - in what is expected to be a free-spending race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Whitman's donation to her campaign, announced today, brings her persional contributions today to $19 million. She has also raised $6.7 in other donations by the June 30 filing deadline, Team Whitman announced.

The Whitman campaign said the latest self-funding by the former eBay CEO affirms a promise she made to pay a three-for-one match on the first $5 million raised during the reporting period.

"Meg wanted to show her donors that she is as equally committed to fixing California and winning this election as they are," senior campaign advisor Henry Gomez said in a statement. "She is deeply grateful for all the support she is receiving."

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who has to date has pumped $4.2 million of his own money into his campaign, has also raised another $1.2 million.

While Whitman was becoming a billionaire as head of eBay, Poizner created the wireless technology firm, SnapTrak, and later sold it for $1 billion.

Safe to say, he figures to have plenty more to spend as well.

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