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.
Go to YouTube and watch any of the Paul rallies, and these people don't even come close to fitting the stereotypes. Lots of ordinary families coming together from the heartland.
ROFL, you guys are completely losing it. All of Dr. Paul's money is coming from individuals, not corporate fat-cats like the other Republican turds.
And instead the Libertarwackos will actually vote this election cycle instead of being locked away in a bathroom inhaling enough pot to forget there's an election, let alone what decade they currently reside in?
Good luck, he's got the grassroots fired up.
He’s bleeding donations away from worthy, viable Republican candidates and he’s going to use that money for a 3rd party run that will guarantee a Democrat in the White House.
Mitt's a millionaire, why are you worried about it? He can always write himself a check and continue bleeding in the red.
Those crazy Ron Paul loons are raving all the way to the bank!
And Mitt will keep writing those checks. He shows every willingness to further whittle down his kid’s inheritance if that what it takes.
Where did he claim that? He has been a Republican for years, but he ran as a libertarian in '88.
Keep in mind that some conservatives believe that Republicans should still be for limited government, the constitution, civil liberties, our sovereignty, and "we the people."
We're definitely seeing a big split in the Republican party, between the conservatives who believe in what I just mentioned, and the type who don't care about unconstitutional policies, big spending, open borders, big government, excessive interventionism, globalism that will eventually destroy this country, corruption and being only slightly different than the other "party."
Take your pick. I've been an independent conservative, but I would vote Republican if they are of the former variety.
Shouldn’t you be worried about what the neocon controlled military industrial complex will do to keep him away from the white house?
Anyways, Paul is also simultaneously running for his House seat again, so that would further complicate a 3rd party run.
It's funny how you guys don't want Paul to run as a Republican, but will get all fussy and worried that he might run as an independent or 3rd party candidate. If the GOP nominates that POS liberal Rudy or nanny-stater Huckster, then I will ENCOURAGE Paul to run as a 3rd party candidate, or write in his name.
Way.
I smell the aroma of envy and sour grapes. If they're really that disfunctional, how did they manage to raise more money than your candidate has ever raised in a single day?
He’s running now as a Republican. Look down the road a bit—it isn’t that hard.
Those "Libertarwackos" are a key component of this election. Please understand that the GOP's base has shrunk to religious conservatives & pro-national security types. The GOP MUST reach out to libertarians, independents, and old-right conservatives again or else they're going to LOSE. Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate who is drawing support from the old Reagan coalition. Keep making fun of Libertarians, but when they stay home or vote 3rd party YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.
More sour grapes and envy. This defies logic. People in the above categories are mostly economically marginal and don't have this kind of money. The only exception are "billionaire socialists" and I've yet to hear of a single one who supports the Paul campaign. Can you name an example or are you just letting off steam with wishful thinking?
It’s just an awful lot of individuals. Go to his website Ron Paul 2008. It is the best website that I have ever seen. It constantly scrolls the names and addresses the names of recent donors.
And Republicans are trying to sell a pro-war message in an increasingly anti-war country...that's part of the reason why they are about to get their clocks cleaned in states like Ohio and Wisconsin and Colorado that they should be running away with.
A pro-war party is a shrinking party. The strategy should have been to solve the problem and move on, not create another fifty-year overseas commitment. And when Ron Paul dares to point that out, the Shrinking Party has too much ego invested in the status quo to do anything but shriek and start name-calling.
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