Christie Campaign Raising Money, Cocktails at Ridgewood Fundraiser

The Christie campaign is asking citizens to fork over big bucks to hobnob with the governor at a private fundraiser in Ridgewood on July 3.

The Republican governor will be the beneficiary of an exclusive cocktail reception at the Bank of America building in Ridgewood at 6 p.m. Onyx Equities principal John Saraceno, who owns the building, confirmed he is among the six event hosts. Event hosts must raise $25,000 for Christie's election campaign, while host committee members agree to find $15,800. 'Team 100' members must raise $1,000.

Saraceno referred comment to Christie's campaign staff, which did not return a request for comment Thursday morning.

Christie – ahead in the polls by more than 30 points over Democratic nominee Barbara Buono – has raised more than $6.5 million for the upcoming election. The figure is about double what Buono has raised.

The governor was last scheduled to appear in Bergen County two weeks ago but the death of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) forced him to cancel the campaign stop.