Posted on 09/30/2007 3:16:26 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
As the fundraising quarter draws to a close at midnight tonight, candidates are scrambling to boost their numbers by any means necessary (we've received two fundraising pitches signed by candidates with the subject line "Hey," and one from a spouse headed "Re: Hey"). And while he's gotten little attention outside his fervent and fanatic fan base, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who finished the second quarter with more cash on hand than Sen. John McCain, could have another surprise in store for the media establishment his supporters so often malign.
In the run-up to the filing deadline, Paul's supporters were asked to help the candidate raise $500,000 in just a few days. That's more than former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee raised in the entire first quarter, by the way. Yesterday, the Paul campaign revised its goal -- supporters had raised $850,000 already, and the campaign was shooting for $1 million by midnight tonight.
The campaign reached the $1 million mark last night, a full day ahead of schedule.
Paul won't outraise any of the front-runners, but the frugality with which he is running the campaign, as well as the fervency of his supporters and his presence in Iowa and New Hampshire, mean that he will be one second-tier candidate unwilling to drop out before the nominating process takes its course. Paul could cause some serious problems for the front-runners, and it looks increasingly like he will have the money to compete in at least a few early states.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
His followers are what Eric Hoffer called true believers.
No matter how much money they throw into the pot, there’s no way that Ron Paul is going anywhere, outside of his district.
So, are you accusing Paul’s campaign of illegal activity? Do you have any evidence or are you just guessing?
Again, who the heck is Ron Paul? Oh I remember, the kook from Texas trying to pass himself off as a Conservative.
Paul/Kucinich ‘08
or ?
Paul/Sheehan ‘08
It’s not against federal law to have unpaid, enthusiastic volunteers making signs, donating their time and money, working the grounds, and contributing individually without the aide of special-interest groups or PACs, but whatever. It’s all moot anyway, right? Paul’s not going to win anyway, he’s a moonbat kook. Let’s just say that all of Ron Paul’s money came from Code Pink, MoveOn.org, and neo-Nazis skinheads and kill the thread.
$1,000,000? That’s about 2% of what Hillary has in the bank.
The only thing surprising about Rupal is that he’s not locked up in an asylum.
Because Paul is yelling pull the troops out now and Bush is an idiot. That's why. He smells like a liberal to liberals.
Just goes to show how wrong campaign finance law is. People should be able to freely support their candidate to whatever extent they want and in whatever manner they choose.
How is it in any way illegal to create your own campaign materials clearly marked as “not paid for or authorized by any candidate or committee”? How is it illegal to spraypaint someone’s name on a sheet of Tyvek or write it on a posterboard? How is it illegal to make t-shirts and buttons with your own money? How is it illegal to pay for your own booths at fairs and gatherings to promote a candidate, for free, on your own time, with your own campaign materials? How is it illegal to talk to your friends and neighbors about a candidate? How is it illegal to wave signs for your candidate, many of which you have paid for or made yourself, on a street corner?
None of these activities are illegal. And in addition to millions of dollars worth of campaign materials created for free and paid for by individuals, millions of hours of volunteer work in every city in America, we have the ability to raise actual campaign contributions as well. For example, $6600 every single hour, 24 hours a day, for 1 week. Currently, with 4 hours left in Q3, $1.13 million. All perfectly legitimate and under the scrutiny of the FEC.
That is the biggest grassroots organization in the current Presidential campaign, and we are a “top tier” campaign.
He is a “useful idiot” candidate.
I suspect he gets funding the same way Hsu funded democrats.
He is a way for the left to infest the republicans and divert energy of potential hard core republican supporters who don’t see paul is a lunatic.
How much of Hillary's money came from shady foreign donors or left-wing PACs
and interest groups? Virtually all of Paul's money came from individual donations across the country.
Maybe they'll create a new law right quick.
Every cent the loose cannon money goes to Ron Paul’s campaign means one cent less money goes to Obama or Edwards (those people in general are not keen to Hillary).
Every cent the loose cannon money goes to Ron Paul’s campaign means one cent less money goes to Obama or Edwards (those people in general are not keen to Hillary).
I. Filing a Complaint
Any person may file a complaint if he or she believes a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Laws or Commission regulations has occurred or is about to occur. The complaint must be made in writing, and sent to the Office of General Counsel, Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463. The original must be submitted along with three copies, if possible. Facsimile transmissions are not acceptable.
A complaint must comply with certain requirements. It must:
Provide the full name and address of the person filing the complaint (called the complainant); and
Be signed, sworn to and notarized. This means that the notary public’s certificate must say “...signed and sworn to before me...”
Furthermore, in order for a complaint to be considered complete and proper, it should:
Clearly recite the facts that show specific violations under the Commission’s jurisdiction (citations to the law and regulations are not necessary);
Clearly identify each person, committee or group that is alleged to have committed a violation (called the respondent);
Include any documentation supporting the allegations, if available; and
Differentiate between statements based on the complainant’s (the person who files the complaint) personal knowledge and those based on information and belief. Statements not based on personal knowledge should identify the source of the information.
http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/complain.shtml#anchor460355
Federal Election Campaign Laws:
http://www.fec.gov/law/feca/feca.pdf
That's simply preposterous and is just sour grapes. Apparently you guys have a problem with individuals giving their time and money to someone they choose to support instead of to one of the candidates approved by the liberal media. These are the sheeple that FReepers used to complain about for not taking part in the political process. So now that they are and finally see someone they like, suddenly their support shouldn't be taken seriously and they don't know what they're doing, they're dumb, blah blah blah.
Ron Paul isn't going away you guys. He's a legitimate presidential candidate who in all likelihood could win several primary states and could give the GOP some problems. Reports are circulating that he could be between $5-$10 million dollars for the 3Q. While that's not exactly Giuliani or Romney money, it's far more than all of the other GOP candidates combined and he could edge out Thompson in 3Q fundraising, but I take into account that Thompson just formally declared three weeks ago and his $8 million is impressive.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.