Cory Booker Banks on Hollywood Help in Senate Race

Hollywood heavyweights Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Oprah Winfrey dug deep to help U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker raise $2.85 million in August and September.

The New Jersey Democrat — who is running in a special election Oct. 16 against Republican Steve Lonegan for the unexpired seat of the late Frank Lautenberg — reported donations of $2,852,907 and payments of $4,279,282 from July 25 to Sept. 26, leaving $2,632,115 cash on hand in his war chest as of Sept. 25, Roll Call reported Friday.

Booker, who is mayor of Newark, has raised more than $11 million and spent $8.8 million, Roll Call reported.

The Cory Booker for Senate committee also raised $219,470 in contributions of $200 or less, and $2.1 million from those giving more than $200. PACs and other political committees gave $225,275.

Individual donors included actor/writer/director/producer Affleck; SSG Film Corp. actor Damon and his wife Luciana Damon; IAC/Interactive Corp. chairman Barry Diller; R&B  singer/songwriter Kenny Gamble; actress Jennifer Garner; DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and DreamWorks Studios partner Steven Spielberg and his artist-wife Kate Capshaw Spielberg; actress/singer Barbra Streisand; Harpo Inc. CEO Winfrey; writer Laurel Durst; and writer Michael Chabon.

For his primary win, Booker also got Hollywood help. Winfrey joined him at a fundraiser, and actress Eva Longoria campaigned with him, The Hollywood Reporter noted.