Wood's campaign for governor runs low on money

CHICAGO -- Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood has spent the vast majority of the money she has raised in her campaign for governor -- but she said she's confident she'll raise more.

Wood said the $6,789 that remained in her campaign account at year's end is a minor problem that she expects to correct with a fund-raising campaign. But it puts her well behind her rivals in the Republican primary. Front-runner Attorney General Jim Ryan has an estimated $2.85 million to spend and state Sen. Patrick O'Malley has more than $1 million.

"I don't intend to be outspent," Wood said. Asked whether she will use more of her family's wealth to campaign for the March 19 primary, she said, "I might have to."

Wood and her husband, Paul, an investment broker, already have spent $1.5 million of their own on the campaign.

Although empty campaign coffers can be seen as a poor reflection on a candidate's viability, Wood emphasized her proven record in raising money. After some down time following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, she raised and spent $1.7 million.

"There is absolutely no significance to this whatsoever," Wood said. "This campaign is going ahead full throttle."