SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Former eBay chairwoman Meg Whitman, running for office for the first time, has put $39 million of her own money into her campaign fund, the Los Angeles Times reported. She has already spent $19 million, much of it on commercials.

State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, also a multimillionaire and running against Whitman for the Republican nomination, has put $19.1 million into his campaign.

State Attorney General Jerry Brown, the presumed Democratic nominee, spent almost nothing in 2009 on his gubernatorial campaign, leaving him with $12.1 million in the kitty at the end of the year.

Bruce Cain, a political scientist at the University of California at Berkeley, said Whitman's spending has boosted her in the polls.

"Without that expenditure, she wouldn't be where she is right now", Cain said. "She's had a chance to define herself, before the negative ads start."

Brown, who has already served two terms as governor, remains an undeclared candidate, although he has no significant opposition in the Democratic primary, which is still four months away. Roger Salazar, an unpaid Brown adviser, said he is known for limiting campaign spending.

 BREAKING STORIES

Obama, Clinton working well together

Smith's estate won't get Marshall money

SeaWorld joins trainer death video suit

Dog DNA leads to man's murder conviction

Officer: Military cuts possible in Iraq

IED threat increases against U.S. troops

Ex is suing Lady Gaga for $35M

Ground Zero responders eyeing settlement

Russia to conduct missile tests

Brits invited to march in Red Square

Federal subpoenas in Ensign investigation

Chained vets protest 'Don't Ask' policy

Pedophile trial against Boy Scouts begins

Co. settles complaint over anti-Semitism

Ten Commandments monument moved

Britain cuts 166 in Cyprus military staff

Payments due to Kilpatrick attorney

McChrystal lays out campaign for Kandahar

Rebel Darfur group agrees to cease-fire

Rebel Darfur group agrees to cease-fire