GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman announced this morning that she has dropped another $20 million into her campaign coffer, bringing the total amount she has contributed to her campaign to $39 million.
Whitman's campaign also said it raised $10.2 million in 2009, ending the year with $30.5 million cash-on-hand, meaning the former eBay executive spent about $19 million in the past year.
"Meg's commitment to creating jobs, cutting spending and fixing education has won early and broad support among Californians," campaign manager Jillian Hasner said in a statement. "This contribution comes in addition to overwhelming donor support from Californians and shows how fully committed Meg is to winning this election and re-building this state."
This year's gubernatorial race is expected to eclipse previous spending records, especially with two super wealthy candidates going head-to-head in the Republican primary.
Whitman's rival for the Republican nomination, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, has also poured a significant amount of his own cash into his campaign.
Poizner, who donated $19 million to his campaign, said earlier this month that he raised $2.46 million last year, entering 2010 with $17.5 million cash on hand.
UPDATE: The Poizner campaign issued a statement campaign slamming Whitman's "reckless spending levels" and past support for Democratic candidates (as we've reported, both GOP candidates have given to Dems in the past).
"Meg Whitman doesn't have a revenue problem, Meg Whitman has a spending problem of epic proportions," Poizner press secretary Bettina Inclan said in a statement. "The first $20 million that Meg spent didn't hide the fact that she endorsed Barbara Boxer, donated to the authors of AB 32, and has a campaign run by a DNC activist, so we have no reason to think the next $20 million will."
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