Jerry Brown Has $12M On Hand for Calif. Gov Race

Jerry Brown, who is expected to be the Democratic nominee for California governor, is reporting that he has nearly $12 million in the bank.

In campaign finance reports filed Monday, the state attorney general and former two-term governor also reported raising nearly $5 million during the last six months of 2009.

The reports show Brown maintaining his reputation for frugality. He says he spent just $138,000 for travel, office furniture and other expenses.

If he enters the race as expected, Brown will face a wealthy Republican opponent in the general election.

Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman has said she is willing to spend $100 million in her quest to become governor. She faces state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, himself a wealthy Silicon Valley entrepreneur, in the GOP primary.