Conforti has $454 and the Mercer line

Christine Conforti has just $454 in her warchest as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 4th district.

Conforti is one of three Democrats seeking to challenge 20-term Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-Hamilton).

The 31-year-old Conforti had been widely underestimated in race between Schmid and Applefield, who have raised significantly more money and accumulated more endorsements.

The former United Nations staffer raised $6,451 during the first three months of 2020 and has brought in $14,151.

Conforti won the Mercer County Democratic convention last month, defeating former U.S. Department of State official Stephanie Schmid by a vote of 45 to 35, with one vote going to David Applefield, a former journalist.

Since Schmid was able to hit the 40% threshold, under party rules she will also be listed on the Mercer line.

In Ocean County, Schmid won the organization line by a narrow 47 to 42.

Schmid won the line in Monmouth County by a vote of 267 to 144, 62%-34%, with 17 votes going to Applefield.

Monmouth County made up 64% of the total votes cast in the 2018 Democratic congressional primary in the 4th district.  Ocean was 21% and Mercer was 15%.

In that race, Josh Welle had the organization line in all three counties.  He defeated former Asbury Park councilman Jim Keady by 2,923 votes in Monmouth (58%-42%), 892 votes in Ocean (57%-43%), and 408 in Mercer (55%-45%).