Lautenberg raises only $11,000 in last quarter

The incumbent senator has slightly more than $180,000 cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings released on Friday.

{mosads}At the same time in his last election cycle, in the final quarter of 2006, Lautenberg had also raised minimal funds in the three-month period, only $3,000. But the wealthy candidate had also loaned his own campaign $1 million, bringing his cash on hand at that point to more than $1.4 million.

He has not made any similar personal loans to his campaign committee this time around.

Lautenberg’s paltry cash-on-hand sum will stoke questions concerning his future plans. Though the Senator hasn’t yet indicated whether he’ll be running again in 2014, Democrats in the state largely expect the 89-year-old to retire, rather than launch another run.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) has already indicated an interest in launching a primary challenge to Lautenberg, if the incumbent does decide to run again. If Booker does run, he’s sure to be a formidable fundraiser, and one source close to the mayor said he expects to raise at least $1 million by the next reporting period.

Though Lautenberg could ultimately loan his campaign money in the future, his choice not to do so as the race begins to heat up will fuel speculation surrounding his possible retirement.