TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Jeff Bell, New Jersey's Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, has always been a long shot against Democratic incumbent Sen. Cory Booker, but that hasn't stopped some friends with deep pockets from trying to help. The American Principles Fund, a political action committee with ties to a policy organization where Bell worked in Washington, has infused nearly a quarter of a million dollars into the race, mostly to oppose Booker. Together, they're the largest independent expenditures in the race, according to Federal Election Commission documents, and they come as outside spending in this year's midterm election reaches new heights. Fieler is chairman of the American Principles Project and sits on the board of the American Principles Fund that — all told — has spent $80,000 supporting Bell and $160,000 opposing Booker, FEC documents show. The fund's spending, while helpful to the Bell campaign, pales in comparison to the outside spending from last October's special election.