Congressman Ron Paul has been the surprise fundraising star of the 2008 Presidential season. In the fourth quarter of last year, Paul picked up about $20 million and outraised every other Republican in the field.
But voters haven’t warmed to the controversial Texas Congressman who once ran for President as a Libertarian. In fact, Paul has failed to top 10% in any of the major contests so far. He’s pinning his Super Tuesday hopes on less important states like North Dakota, West Virginia, and Alaska - caucus states where he might be able to win some delegates with his dedicated following.
Leading up to the big vote, the Paul campaign challenged donors to kick in an additional $5 million by February 5. That would have brought his first quarter fundraising to $8.4 million, a very respectable figure.
But the money isn’t flowing in quite as readily as it used to. So far the campaign has picked up only about $1.8 million of that $5 million challenge. And for today the website shows only about $33,000 in new donations.
Does this mean the Ron Paul Revolution is running out of steam? Are Paul supporters starting to finally realize that he won’t be the Republican nominee and that their money is better spent elsewhere?
That certainly seems to be the case.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:17 am
He has 5.2 million raised this quarter alone.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:20 am
No. He’ll win big on Feb 5th. He has started a movement and its just begun.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Uh, he just got 19% in Maine and a third of the delegates there. Thousands have shown up for his rallies even in the last few days (even 1200 people in /Fargo/!) About 3000 in Denver the other day (more than Romney who was there at the same time) and thousands tonight in Minneapolis.
Oh, and he raised another million bucks last friday alone.
So if “running out of gas” means highest vote percentage yet, continuing to raise millions, and getting huge turnouts, then yes, he’s running out of gas. Maybe you’ll run out of bias someday.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:22 am
19% in Maine.. with 35% of the delegates.. 14% in Nevada .. he competes wisely in non-winner take all states unless he can win or get close.
He even states that he won Louisiana if the GOP counts all the votes. Nonetheless Second in Louisiana.
Front runner no.. bu wasn’t Fred Thompson a front runner ? Wasn’t Rudy Gulliani a front runner ?
Look at Mike Huckabees numbers they are going down as he fades from the media light.
Ron Paul is by no means going to crush anyone but right now when others are running out of money Paul just keeps on ticking.
When the media is turning on McCain and Romney to promote Hillary they are getting tired of fighting Paul the more they do the more they fail.
One thing is that is happening is that Paul’s supporters are not getting the spotlight he is and the one that are supporting him are fighting for delegates not popular vote.
How much is McCain raising ? How much is Romney raising ?
November is a long way off and we are just picking our battles and weighing our options.
Paul has spent the least of all the candidates that are left. That is the sign of a true conservative.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:23 am
No, no, and no.
Dr. Paul’s supporters are stronger and more well organized than ever.
Oh, and he got 14% in Nevada, second to Romney. Last time I checked, 14 is larger than 10. You may want to check your facts and math before posting false numbers.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Do you just spout this stuff without doing any research? $5 million in the first month? It was $3.5 million just two days ago! People did a last minute unorganized $1 million money bomb for Ron & Carol’s 51st anniversary…that is a lot of money with just a few days planning! Donations always drop some after a big spurt. We need to come up with another inspiring date and we will…sheesh! If you figure that none of the other Republican candidates raised more than $9 million from supporters in the 4th qtr…$5 million is over twice that…in one month!
So NO…we are not dead…we are still growing and are not going anywhere. Many outsiders do not understand that we WILL go to the convention…if you cannot understand why we would do this…then you have some serious research ahead of you. Ron will not drop and neither will we…this is a no compromise WAR. Sure other supporters say this…but once again…we are different…if you don’t understand this either…more research for you
February 5th, 2008 at 12:25 am
It looks like he won second place in the Main delegate content, beating John McCain handily. Also it looks like he won the Louisiana primary. The struggle to find the most conservative candidate can be ended by simply embracing Dr. Paul, the only conservative record in the race. In so much as the money goes, sorry I am not a super wealthy elite corporatist and neither are many of Dr. Paul’s supporters. We are all struggling with the current economic crisis and so saving and paying of debt are high on the agenda. I wouldn’t write the good doctor off just yet, we will see how the drama unfolds.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Ron Paul supporters are now working under the radar. You might be surprised. Money isn’t everything. Hey did you notice that Paul was the only candidate that didn’t run his campaign on DEbT. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a president that didn’t mortgage our children future?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Keep telling yourself they are “running out of steam” if it helps you sleep at night. Ron Paul - Taking the GOP back to its roots one voter at a time.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Dude he has 5.1 million dollars this quarter, which achieves his 5 million before Feb 5th goal
February 5th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Ron’s only averaging $1 million a week! Wow, it’s all downhill from here!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:42 am
I would gladly give Ron Paul $2300 to campaign for President if I only had it available to me. You see, I as well as most of his donors because we are part of the working or self-employed middle class that can’t afford to continuing funding this government’s nation building when we need the funds right here in our backyard.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Ron Paul is pursuing a tortoise-hare type race for the nomination. Because he’s been so heavily opposed by the Republican party establishment, the media establishment, and the heavily-subsidized financial establishment, he hasn’t been able to get his message out to the masses. Nevertheless, he’s managed to amass the biggest grassroots movement in American political history — and will probably be one of only three candidates to make it to the convention. (Huckabee is out of money — his campaign is the one that’s losing gas).
Dr. Paul’s fundraising is well ahead of where it was at this time last quarter, so to say that he’s not raising funds is nonsense. He has the number 3 best-selling book on Amazon, even though it’s not even published yet and won’t be for another month. He continues to gain delegates and endorsements.
A lot can change in 6 monts. Six months ago, McCain was being written off, and Guiliani was the leader. In the next 6 months, there could be another reversal. Polls show that while many Republicans currently prefer McCain and Romney, most are not enthusiastic supporters. After another six months of economic rot, caused by Republican policies, and a no-win, no-end war, Dr. Paul’s message will resonate a lot louder than it has been. He will be at the Republican convention; he’ll be speaking to the entire assembly, there will be 100,000 enthusiastic Ron Paul supporters outside the convention center. If McCain doesn’t win on the first ballot, and he probably won’t given the huge conservative opposition to him, then Ron Paul will be well-positioned. Who else are the conservatives in the party going to turn to. They don’t trust Romney — and most evangelicals will never support him. The certainly don’t trust McCain. Likewise with Huckabee. Thompson and Guiliani have fizzled. Who else is there in the Republican party among conservatives that has any following?
For a great satire on the president, the mainstream media, and the war on terror, see this YouTube music video from the international award-winning zombie musical feature film, “Song of the Dead.” (www.songofthedead.com)It’ stars horror movie veteran Reggie Bannister (Phantasm, Wishmaster, Bubba Ho-tep) as the president of the U.S. The filmmaker, Chip Gubera, is giving a share of his profits from DVD sales to the Ron Paul campaign. Go to:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qQmkkoxSKYw
February 5th, 2008 at 12:54 am
The race has just begun.
This is a revolution after Tuesday there may only be Ron Paul & Romney left in the Race.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Sorry…he’s gaining momentum. Just picked up 2nd place in Maine, and is expected to especially well in the northwest.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:59 am
He asked for $5 million by Super Tuesday, he got $5.2 so far for this, and the quarter goal is $8.4 million. This is the beginning of a movement, not just a vote for a candidate. The Ron Paul meet-up groups are going on even after the election is over in November.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:04 am
The problem isn’t necessarily Ron Paul– although he does have his racist and nativist supporters. Its the Republican party
February 5th, 2008 at 4:16 am
I’m young and sick of it all, sick of unneeded wars, sick of our old veterans who have fought for us ending up in old folks homes with no one giving a damn about them, sick of inflation, sick of giving israel a 6 billion dollar blank check and their arab rivals a 18 billion dollar blank check, sick of changing Nato’s diapers and protecting Japan and S Korea, and Taiwan and and …sick of a GOP that pays lip service to those who believe in the Lord, sick of Pat Robertson’s endorsement of Rudy Guliani, sick of all the illegals who come to this country when there are many good Indian, Jordanian, German, English, Israeli, Australian’s who have got in the queue and waited patiently months and years to be united with their loved one’s while 15 million illegals can just pour over our border…sad to say this but Iraq’s border is more protected than our own….
and sick of the government pushing Anti Gun legislation down our throats!
….hmmm I think I need a DOCTOR
does anyone know a doctor who has a CURE for my sickness?
February 5th, 2008 at 5:20 am
A NEW HOPE
We all have been living a nightmare. A vision D. Eisenhower warned of in his 1961 farewell address to the nation. In his address, Eisenhower warned of the corruption of our government, our society, and our culture by the MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. It seems that, as a nation, we have not listened. Eisenhower’s dire vision has become our reality. And from this fearful dream, this nation is waking. Our eyes are opening to the truth collectively for the first time. WE THE PEOPLE are finding that we have been subjugated, placated into ignorance and fear, lied to by the very people we have entrusted to preserve and protect our rights, liberties, and our constitution. Many will turn away in fear of truth and close their eyes once again. To open our eyes to this reality, is to also understand that we are all responsible for it as well. complacency and dependence upon the machine keeps THE PEOPLE in line because it is convenient and safe. We have sold our souls. We have as a nation let this happen to ourselves.
My heart breaks for the people of this nation. Our government wages war upon our freedoms, liberties, and our constitution. I watch our republic’s destruction, not to the sound of guns or bombs, but to the sound of thunderous applause of those held captive by terrified patriotic blindness, guided by the propaganda of fear, as we give our rights and even the lives of our fellow man for the profit of the corrupt. A fear that is erasing our great history of freedom and repeating itself 70 years later with another dictatorship of war, under the guise of homeland security and the protection of the people.
BUT THERE IS STILL HOPE.
With love and openness, we can overcome ignorance and fear. It is our right as the people, and my duty as a United States MARINE written into our constitution by our founding fathers, entrusted to us, by the people, to ensure that our liberty, freedom, and the constitution never again become the subjugation of the corruption that we have wrought upon ourselves. We must take back our country, and give it to the people. So let us open our hearts, take responsibility, and make our HOPE become our reality. Lets begin REVOLUTION. His name
Dr. Ron Paul
February 5th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Tim,
Your rhetoric about Ron Paul is what makes me think that his supporters are a little crazy. I’ll merely point out to you that Paul was a huge supporter of and was supported by Ronald Reagan, who ran up the military industrial complex which he financed through deficit spending and then waged a covert war in Central American that caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians. His administration also were quite prolific in running guns to the Iranian fundamentalists, which this administration claims have been doling those same arms out to its Iraqi clients. That’s some leadership!
I totally agree with you that the way forward is through love and openness to change. The question is… do I think Ron Paul is the only person that can do many of the things? Nope. As Yoda once said…”there is another…” and that person is Barack Obama. Look him up… he’s proposing to get us out of Iraq, and stop much of this administration’s bullshit when it comes to national security and the overhyped War on Terror.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Obama “proposes” to get us out of Iraq? He proposes alot….more war, more federal spending, more of the same old thing in a shiny new package. Old maids like me know how meaningful a proposal is. Let the American voters continue their crush on Obama. And when their sons and brothers are drafted into this war, and they loose everything in this crashing economy, are his sweet words and charm going to soothe them at night? If you take off one set of dirty clothes and put on another set of dirty clothes, have you CHANGED a thing? Ron Paul–the ONLY choice for POTUS.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
In case you haven’t figured this out, MEDIA BIAS = MORE GAS….. All the media in the world can not hide the grand deception that the NeoCons are trying to pull off in this election. It is only a matter of time before there is sufficient numbers to remove the corrupt bankers who are currently in charge. This situation has next to nothing to do with politicians. These guys are simply the sales and marketing arm of the Fed Reserve and CFR. Ron Paul and citizens can at will rule their world, that’s a scary thought!
February 5th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Mia,
No one is aware of the imperfections of Barack Obama more than I am. And I condemn this war and this administration’s blunder in Iraq and the Middle East in the strongest terms. I was against this war in 2002, I protested against this war in February of 2003, and I was for pulling troops out of Iraq from the very beginning. I also, like you, see a link between this war and the crashing of the economy.
There’s no doubt that Paul took a brave stance on the War in Iraq and his presence in the election is a breath of fresh air in the Republican party, which is responsible for hundreds of thousands of dead in Iraq and thousands of American dead. Their record of foreign policy mismanagement is unparalleled and they’ve got this country involved in its most pointless and fruitless and counterproductive war since the War of 1812.
That aside… Ron Paul isn’t going to win the Republican nomination. I wish he would, but that’s not Ron Paul’s problem, that’s a problem with the Republican party. At least in the Democratic party, where I hang my hat on its left-most fringes, we have a major candidate that talks about radically decreasing the number of troops in Iraq instead of increasing them like John McCain.
In the general election, if Paul does not get the nomination, who will you vote for?
February 5th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
If Ron Paul doesn’t win, I’ll be taking my family and leaving America…
I am one of the “politically disparaged” middle class that has had my independent business bankrupted…
Eight years ago I charged $100.00 an hour and was busy all day everyday, now I make salads part-time at minimum wage and can’t seem to find a better job…
I will be staying in America just long enough to vote for Ron Paul, then I will be leaving because I am getting job offers in Europe. I sure wish I could stay here in my home, but how am I supposed to feed my family on part-time minimum wage?
February 6th, 2008 at 7:34 am
The Ron Paul Revolution is DEAD
February 6th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Looks like that wave of Ron Paul support didn’t come. I think it is time for his supporters to admit that his problems are deeper than a media bias/media blackout. After all Huckabee showed over super tuesday that it was possible to push ahead and pull of a strong showing even when the media had cut his coverage and labeled him an “also-ran” candidate.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
If Ron Paul doesn’t win, I’ll be taking my family and leaving America…
You are going to have to spin a lot of salads to pay the moving fees!
February 6th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Hmm, I have been reading a lot of news comment threads for over a year now. People accused Ron Paul’s supporters of spamming the boards, which I had seen happen once or twice, but lately I’m seeing a lot of spamming from his opponents. The comment by Joseph, “Looks like that wave of Ron Paul support didn’t come. …” has been on a few news comment threads I’ve read today.
And by the way, I’m hearing a lot of people, especially those who do -not- support Ron Paul, saying they’ll be waiting for all of their tax refunds / rebates to come in and moving out of the country. They say that they’re too disappointed with McClinton.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
It is too hard for me to vote for a candidate who is “chosen” and promoted by organizations that are not a part of our Government. Seems like all the ones that are promoted on the tube is connected to the elite corporation driven war mongers. I just can not vote for one of those!
It’s a matter of conscience. Ron Paul is a real deal..real principles and real solutions for a prosperious rebublic. It’s just a matter of time that a majority will wake up, desparation and wonderment will make them search for truth..just a matter of time.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
The Ron Paul movement is fueled by truth, unlike all the other campaigns that clearly have gas. The selfassured flatulence of the other candidates is not only a sign for their profoundly hollow characters but also of the stench of their hidden agendas. The next four years will suffocate the US in one big cloud of corruption. Take a deep breath.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
The Republican party is finished now that they have joined the welfare state.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
The Beginning of the End for Ron Paul
He’ll continue to make an impression, he’s set records, but Super Tuesday was not super for Ron Paul.
http://www.nolanchart.com/article2497.html
February 6th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I do not cr if the Ron Paul campaign is “out of gas”. I don’t care if he is on the ballot in the November election or not. I am voting for Ron Paul for President in November even if I have to write his name in. After 8 years of a so called Republican in the White House and so called Republicans in Congress who act more like Great Society Democrats, I am really mad. I do not believe anything that McCain , Romney, or Huckabee have to say. I am voting for Ron Paul even if it means that Clinton or Obama will win.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hello. I Iceland. Ron Paul good for America. If free, peace, and prosperity make USA grow. I send money to Ron Paul because he leave Europe. Good for Soldiers. Good for America.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
John McCain has become successful by getting Huckabee to tie up Romney. He’s got nothing to worry about from Ron Paul, but his support will help to bring him into the White House. If I were McCain, I’d worry about Huckabee taking my delegates away, because this would stop him from becoming President.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
GO RON PAUL!!!!
Thank you for covering this. We are doing better than I thought. This is encouraging!!! We are in this for the long haul. Look how far we have come!
GO RON PAUL
February 7th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Another idiot blogger that doesn’t do their research first…. That 1.8 million you quote was in ONE DAY- Feb. 2nd. The total was at least 5.2 million this QUARTER when you posted this. No wonder this country elected George Bush. And again…
If people weren’t enclosed in their little reality show bubbles and maybe researched ALL the candidates (especially the one their going to vote for!), we would have a much better country.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:43 am
I am a staunch Ron Paul supporter. I intend to write his name in in November. But… he is not going to get much over his current ratings, the hopes of his supporters notwithstanding. Way too many people simply do not know who he is, let alone are motivated to listen in depth to his positions. 10% of the population always “get it”. But it is never enough to to overcome the inertia of the 90% who simply have no interest. Though many pretend they do.
Great numbers of the voting public still accept with credibility, the carefully crafted deceptions of the mass media, who have worked effectively and cynically to marginalize and ignore him.
Sadly, it will always be so, when presented the truth in the political world. People just seem to want some magical leader to solve their problems for them, willingly, almost insisting upon foregoing their liberty. Except for that 10%. It has always been so.
The Power Elite know this and have the resources to make it so. Time and spaced do not permit enumerating these Power Elite. You know them. Read Cato, Sulla, Caesar, Tiberius, Gore Vidal, etc, etc.
The American Empire, The Fascist States of America, however you want to put it, is solidly entrenched and sliding inevitably downward.
“The only thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history.” Even with people like Ron Paul trying to tell us. But I will vote for him anyway as one more tiny protest.
Cheers.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:44 am
I am a staunch Ron Paul supporter. I intend to write his name in in November. But… he is not going to get much over his current ratings, the hopes of his supporters notwithstanding. Way too many people simply do not know who he is, let alone are motivated to listen in depth to his positions. 10% of the population always “get it”. But it is never enough to to overcome the inertia of the 90% who simply have no interest. Though many pretend they do.
Great numbers of the voting public still accept with credibility, the carefully crafted deceptions of the mass media, who have worked effectively and cynically to marginalize and ignore him.
Sadly, it will always be so, when presented the truth in the political world. People just seem to want some magical leader to solve their problems for them, willingly, almost insisting upon foregoing their liberty. Except for that 10%. It has always been so.
The Power Elite know this and have the resources to make it so. Time and spaced do not permit enumerating these Power Elite. You know them. Read Cato, Sulla, Caesar, Tiberius, Gore Vidal, etc, etc.
The American Empire, The Fascist States of America, however you want to put it, is solidly entrenched and sliding inevitably downward.
“The only thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history.” Even with people like Ron Paul trying to tell us. But I will vote for him anyway as one more tiny protest.