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Donors, paid $2,000 a plate and some were allowed private meetings with dignitaries including Governor McGreevey. New Jersey's two senators, Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg were also in attendance to support Kerry.
New Jersey is not considered a battleground state in the upcoming presidential election. In 2000, Vice President Al Gore carried the state handily, and Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by 1,140,970 to 879,804.
Kerry told New Jersey Democrats who were there to write more than checks. He said their job is to mobilize party faithful and swing voters to oust Bush. With about 800 Kerry supporters inside the Meadowlands Sheraton, there were some protesters and pro-Bush enthusiasts outside.
New Jersey's Democratic primary, which is the last in the country, will be held in June.
