Posted on 11/05/2007 6:34:09 PM PST by grundle
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, aided by an extraordinary outpouring of Internet support Monday, hauled in more than $3.5 million in 20 hours.
Paul, the Texas congressman with a Libertarian tilt and an out-of-Iraq pitch, entered heady fundraising territory with a surge of Web-based giving tied to the commemoration of Guy Fawkes Day.
Fawkes was a British mercenary who failed in his attempt to kill King James I on Nov. 5, 1605. He also was the model for the protagonist in the movie "V for Vendetta." Paul backers motivated donors on the Internet with mashed-up clips of the film on the online video site YouTube as well as the Guy Fawkes Day refrain: "Remember, remember the 5th of November."
Paul's total deposed Mitt Romney as the single-day fundraising record holder in the Republican presidential field. When it comes to sums amassed in one day, Paul now ranks only behind Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton, who raised nearly $6.2 million on June 30, and Barack Obama.
Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said the effort began independently about two months ago at the hands of Paul's backers. He said Paul picked up on the movement, mentioning in it speeches and interviews.
"It's been kind of building up virally," Benton said.
The $3.5 million, he said, represented online contributions from more than 22,000 donors.
Paul has been lagging in the polls behind Republican front-runners. But he captured national attention at the end of September when he reported raising $5.2 million in three months, putting him fourth among Republican presidential candidates in fundraising for the quarter.
Paul as of Monday had raised $6.3 million since Oct. 1, more than half his goal of $12 million by the end of the year, according to his Web site.
Paul advocates limited government and low taxes like other Republicans, but he stands alone as the only GOP presidential candidate opposed to the Iraq war. He also has opposed Bush administration security measures that he says encroach on civil liberties.
If you’re into racing then you should know that ‘Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go’? Looks like RP’s primer painted beater just got a new paint job and a Donovan engine.
The neocons seem to be flocking to Rudy though more than few like Hillary. Of course, they’ll jump ship whenever they see another “winner.”
You can delude yourself if you want. It’s a free country.
Still not going to vote for him.
Ron Paul—is there anything he can’t do?
You mean like flood the country with illegal immigrants, police the world, start another war, bankrupt the country, repeal the 2nd amendment, that sort of thing?
So his prior record of running as a third party candidate means nothing to you...
“The website i cited is a moveon.org entity, that IS supporting Paul...what do you make of that?”
Then it is Soros.
It’s based on that experience that he’s decided he doesn’t want to do that again.
I wonder if whoever is doing this is paying people to put up money like Hillary does. You know the bundling or laundering of money?
There are just enough goofy Libertarian/Republicans to make a difference. Just a couple of % of voters leaving reality for a 3rd party waste of their vote COULD hand the White House to the Democrat.
Well, I would put it in different terms. Ron Paul has virtually no chance because of how he's selling himself. He's trying to sell an anti-war message to a pro-war party. It just can't work. Like it or not, debate it till the end of the world, but the fact is that vast majority of Republican/Conservative voters believe in a tough and hawkish foreign policy. AND feel deeply about it.
Ultimately, politics, and especially presidential ones, are a business. You're trying to sell yourself as the best candidate to the voters. Paul running on an anti-war platform in a pro-war party just isn't going to do him any good.
Check out this thread for psychosis. They’re starting to make clown pink seem rational. I know if I keep watching it the term “ZOG conspiracy” is going to come up.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-rlc/1921154/posts
LOL
There is a perfectly rational explanation. A segment of the voters - 10-15% - are tired of being ignored by the authoritarian Big Government-lovers who have taken over both major parties. Ron Paul may not be their ideal standard-bearer, but he's a lot closer to what they believe in than any of the other candidates in the race today.
Paul will continue to gain money and support. He won't win the Republican nomination, but his supporters are serving notice that the party had better take libertarian concerns seriously in 2008.
I got a giggle out of one comment over there.
“Wars of naked neocon aggression”
We're live in our basements here, Taco Bell leftovers cluttering our computers. That same crumpled $100 bill is being spammed throughout network servers.
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