The price tag of the New Jersey gubernatorial race – now neck and neck and grabbing attention of the national parties – has topped $72 million and is on pace to shatter the Garden State’s spending record with a month still left, a Post analysis found.

Republican Jack Ciattarelli is gaining steam both financially and with voters, while panicked Democrats are funneling tens of millions of dollars through super PACs and other independent expenditures to pump up embattled Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s campaign — in a desperate bid to prevent the traditionally blue state where Dems outnumber Republicans by nearly 1 million registered voters from flipping red. 4

The race’s full tab could exceed $250 million by Election Day on Nov. 4 when factoring in a state-record $145 million spent during

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