Barbara Buono Challenger Qualifies For Matching Funds

State Sen. Barbara Buono says her gubernatorial campaign has qualified for matching public funds.The Democrat is well behind Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in polls and has lagged in fundraising as well.

Candidates must raise $380,000 to qualify for matching funds. Buono's campaign says it has raised more than $445,000.

It can now get $2 in public money for each $1 it raises, with an overall cap of $8.2 million.

Christie declined public assistance in the primary and has not said whether he'll accept it for November's election. Candidates who don't take the matching money do not have a limit on how much their campaigns can spend.

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