Oprah Winfrey to Hold Fundraiser for Dem Cory Booker

(AP) NEWARK, N.J.–Oprah Winfrey is holding a fundraiser for Democratic Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker’s bid for the U.S. Senate.

Tickets for Thursday’s event in Jersey City range from $1,000 to $2,600. Booker’s campaign says about 200 people are expected to attend.

Winfrey dubbed Booker a “rock star mayor” on her show, and the two are friends.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced his $100 million gift to Newark’s schools when he and Booker appeared on Winfrey’s TV show in September 2010.

Polls show Booker is the front-runner in the race to replace the late Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg (LOW’-tuhn-burg), who was the oldest member of the Senate and died last month at age 89. The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 13.