Paul’s $20 Million Haul
EmailABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf Reports: His campaign had set a goal of raising $12 million this quarter, so Texas Congressman Ron Paul’s final tally of nearly $20 million raised for his presidential campaign since October is nothing short of remarkable.
Paul’s campaign fundraising says something about the grassroots nature of his campaign.
Half of Paul’s contributions came in two distinct 24-hour "moneybombs," organized virally over the Internet by amateur supporters not affiliated with the campaign.
Most of the contributions came online and the average amount was less than a hundred dollars.
Official fundraising declarations do not have to be disclosed by campaigns until late this month, but it is unlikely that any Republican will have fundraising anything near Paul.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, for instance, has rocketed to the top of polls in the early caucus state of Iowa, but only raised $5 million online this quarter.
"Only Dr. Paul has the ability to inspire Americans to contribute and take action that is necessary if Republicans want to defeat the Democrats in November," said campaign chairman Kent Snyder.
What remains for Paul, two days before Iowans caucus, is to find a way to translate money into tangible support. Recent polls show him still with single-digit support.
But the Paul campaign has been flooding Iowa with supporters to canvas and make calls and they have made large media buys for highly produced commercials that put Paul’s anti-war libertarian platform behind his pledge to secure borders and against amnesty for illegal aliens.
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Im all for Dr Paul. But the article says it all, money is fine, but votes is what counts.If we cant get out of single digit support, all that money means nothing.If we dont see a good showing in the next month or so, its all for nothing. I hear tons of talk, but time for talk is quickly coming to a end and a time for voters is near.
Posted by: Bill | January 1, 2008, 11:55 am 11:55 am
Never fear – Dr. Paul isn’t polling well – because most of his supporters…
A. Didn’t even vote in the last election
B. Don’t have landlines – they are young and use cell phones exclusively
We’ll see what the count is – in NH – Iowa is definetly Huckster Country..Too bad because there is no way a preacher will ever win the general election.
Go Ron Paul
Posted by: Rex | January 1, 2008, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Rex, in point a you say most didnt even vote in the last election. If your talking about collage kids, thats the worse, lowest voting demographic. And my second point, which i didnt made in my first post, Dr Pauls site has a running total, but try clicking on those red arrows, check number of first time donors, those numbers do NOT support a large turnout in any state or county for that matter.
Posted by: Bill | January 1, 2008, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
This is a plea to inculde Ron Paul, and all “second tier” candidtes in teh upcoming debates in NH. Doing so will not allow the nation to see and hear all the candidates, which they should be able to.
Thank you.
Posted by: Greg Weeden | January 1, 2008, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
It is not just the young who don’t have landlines. It is also the smart and savvy, with the economic common sense not to pay for and get taxed on duplicative and outdated technology. That is why we recognize the brilliance of Ron Paul’s economic truths. I haven’t had a landline for nearly 7 years and I just turned 50. (And I can still do a cartwheel–thanks Mel).
I will vote for Ron Paul. Anyone with economic common sense, a brain, and no vested interest in big business should. (And that vested interest in big business won’t help you 5-10 years from now, your dollar will be just as worthless as mine without RP–so you should recognize what is good for you and vote for him too.)
Posted by: Michelles | January 1, 2008, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Michelles
You need to take a few steps back and try seeing things without the Ron Paul 3d glasses on.The real world is not for the faint of heart, but your post doesnt answer
any real questions. What part of VOTES count and money doesnt count as votes dont you understand.Your type really take away from Ron Paul message
Posted by: Jack In Michigan | January 1, 2008, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Ron Paul will win as a Republican or whoever the Democrat is will win. If Ron Paul is not the Republican candidate, it’s all over for the Republicans.
Posted by: Darrel | January 1, 2008, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
Wait and see those Iowa farmers are a pretty smart lot. They know BS when they see it.
Posted by: D. Thomas | January 1, 2008, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
ABC News and Fox simply don’t like Ron Paul’s message of fiscal responsibility and the end of the Iraq war. They see the end of their jobs if he gets elected so they will try everything in their power to make it so he doesn’t win.
Posted by: Matt | January 1, 2008, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Let’s see, early on the mainstream media said that Ron Paul WASN’T a viable candidate because he lacked support and for proof they offered the large amounts of money other candidates had raised. Now that he’s raised $20 million due to the SUPPORT OF PEOPLE and NOT big business, they (and people like Jack of Michigan) claim that money doesn’t matter.
As Spock would say, “fascinating”
To answer Jack’s babbling, PEOPLE gave money to Dr. Paul to SUPPORT his effort to run for President. PEOPLE VOTE ! POLLS are not ELECTIONS. The polls had Bill Clinton at 2% when he first ran for president and look what happened.
For the record, I am a life time Democrat who’s going to vote for Dr. Paul!
Posted by: kerrAvon | January 1, 2008, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Ron Paul is our last hope for freedom and prosperity…even a race car driver, Iowa farmer knows this……
Posted by: arthall33 | January 1, 2008, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Strange. CNN is running interviews with all the runners in Iowa and OUT of iowa, took a trip to CT for Richardson i think,But no Ron Paul.Is he out and about today or did he take the day off?
Posted by: Bill | January 1, 2008, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Any filed candidate has as much right to be included in the debates/forums as the others. They wouldn’t be candidates if people didn’t align themselves with their message.
Ron Paul is bad for the defense industry, which (along with the corruption of the Bush Administration)has bankrupted this country fighting a pointless war.
To exclude Dr. Paul and Duncan Hunter is an abuse of power. To refer to poll percentages as reason for exclusion is preposterous. If the grassroots Paul campaign can rake in $20 MILLION in a quarter, there must be some real support out there. Polls be damned. They are poorly managed, and as apparent here, wildly inaccurate of real life perspective.
Include Paul and Duncan in your debate. We the people demand it. Preserve your respectability and your obligation to fully report news in a fair manner.
Posted by: Detroit RP Supporter | January 1, 2008, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
One other thing, many of the media polls do NOT include Ron Paul. So they say he isn’t registering in the polls, that’s why. Also in the polls they do include him in they are calling mostly avid bush supporters who they polled in the last election. Think about it…
Posted by: Matt | January 1, 2008, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
kerrAvon
Yes, money doesnt matter. Paul can spend every dime, which he has a right to. But the real show is about to begin, and IF Ron does not show above single digits in some of these caucuses in the next month or so. You will come up with another lame reason for his poor showing.Again, that money needs to turn into votes, i have seen nothing to say it will
Posted by: Jack In Michigan | January 1, 2008, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
We cannot blame the media, big corporations or the man in the moon for Ron Paul’s low ratings.
Once again, the American people will elect a President based entirely upon who has the slickest campaign ads and the best press coverage.
Ron Paul towers above the rest of the field in intellect, moral courage and dogged devotion to the principles upon which this Republic was founded… Unfortunately, Presidents are elected not by the determined few… but by the masses who can rattle off NASCAR and NFL statistics, but couldn’t tell you how many justices sit on the United States Supreme Court.
Too bad for America… too bad for us and too bad for our grandkids.
Posted by: Dutch | January 1, 2008, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
You people put WAY too much faith in the the polls being accurate. The problem is that the polling methodology of the majority of the pollsters is flawed. They poll in areas where they think they can get the numbers they are looking for. They also don’t poll cell phones. I am a likely voter- have voted in the past 3 elections, but I have never once been contacted for a poll, and neither have any of my friends. You might think twice about putting too much stock in them.
Posted by: JohnL | January 1, 2008, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
Jack,
Yes, Dr. Paul needs votes to win in the caucuses. So do the other candidates.
If anyone is making excuses, its the main stream media. He doesn’t get the same press as the other candidates, so if you’ve seen nothing that shows you the good Dr. has lots of support, it is not surprising.
Case in point, FOX network held one of the debates and afterwards took a cell phone text poll to see who won. Ron Paul won hands down! Did he get credit for winning, NO. That political HACK Hannity claimed that Ron Paul supporters were calling in multiple times to skew the results in Dr. Paul’s favor. Did he have any proof – NO! Was it even possible to call in multiple times? NO!
ABC held an internet poll. Ron Paul won again. They pulled their poll from the site. Their excuse was that Ron Paul supporters were voting multiple times. Nevermind that there was only 1 vote per IP address. They claimed that Ron Paul supporters were computer hackers who knew how to get around their security. Again no proof. And by the way, I was one of those voters. I voted ONCE!
Why don’t you try checking out Ron Paul’s website yourself? Check on the results of the straw polls there, it might open your eyes a bit.
Bottom line for me, I’m voting for Ron Paul. I don’t give a DAMN about the polls or main stream media. And I KNOW there are a lot of people who feel the same way I do.
BTW, Happy New Year.
Posted by: kerrAvon | January 1, 2008, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
kerrAvon
Agreed. The mainstream media trip over themselves in making sure Dr Paul gets no or little coverage.
I state i am for Dr Paul winning.I have checked his site. Thing that is interesting, number of first time donors, i find that number LOW.
I viewed much of those online polls, and being in the computer field, even if a site requires a different IP per vote, thats a easy thing to get around. And thats the main reason for my doubts, those polls, i feel, were “hacked”
Again, it doesnt matter anymore, not at this stage. The truth will come out in a few weeks.
Posted by: Jack In Michigan | January 1, 2008, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
Well, what about the polls where people actually got off there butts and actually voted. Dr. Ron Paul has placed 1st in more straw polls.
Ron Paul’s Head-to-Head Records (Win-Lose-Tie):
Ron Paul v. Rudy Giuliani–45-7-0
Ron Paul v. Mitt Romney—-36-16-0
Ron Paul v. Fred Thompson–36-15-0
Ron Paul v. John McCain—-47-5-0
Ron Paul v. Mike Huckabee–44-6-1
Ron Paul v. Tom Tancredo—44-6-0
Ron Paul v. Duncan Hunter–48-2-0
Seems evident to me that something is wrong with the mainstream polling.
Posted by: greg | January 1, 2008, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
thank goodness for the internet, otherwise the average american wouldn’t know who ron paul is and what he stands for. our Forefathers would be disgusted by what WE have allowed our government to IMPOSE on us – Ron Paul.
Posted by: paul | January 1, 2008, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
I would like to point out that Ron Paul has more people in his Meetup groups more people at his rallies and more people donating than any other candidate.
So for all of you who are claiming he doesnt have the support…. I think you will be eating your words. In fact I think George Snuffalupacus better get his pocket book ready and prepare to hand his money over to Ron Paul.
The mainstream media gets roughly 80,000 viewers per day. While the internet recieves 75 million hmmm…. so if Ron Pauls following is on the internet then he has more people backing him. Not to mention he has 89,000 people in 1200 meetups…. i mean you really think that someone who gave $100 of their hard earned money will not vote. I think not.
I think we are about to see a very very exciting upset. I also think we are about to see the typical election tactics lose their impact and the phone polls are about to become a thing of the past as they do not touch the greatest portion of our population.
Semper Fi!!! Ron Paul for pres!!
Posted by: Ezra | January 1, 2008, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
greg
Thanks for posting that, thats one of the problems i have seen in the online cnn polls and such. Look at what you posted.Look at the number of people who picked Paul. Either they polled the same group of people , or something is not right.Secondly, look at the total numbers. 60 people isnt a poll, its a meeting.
Posted by: Jack In Michigan | January 1, 2008, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Jack,
Those numbers Greg listed are not the number of people, it is the number of polls (win – lose – tie). For instance, against Giulliani, Ron Paul has scored higher in 47 straw polls and lower in 7 straw polls.
Posted by: kerrAvon | January 1, 2008, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
kerrAvon
Thanks for the clarification. A closer look at those results from Dr Paul’s site only raises more concerns. But i’ll fold for tonight.Again, IF i believe everything i have read here and Dr Paul’s site, its not even a contest, and that initself is the problem. Again-all will be proven by the day after super tuesday.
Happy New Year to All
Posted by: Jack In Michigan | January 1, 2008, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
The polls that the story relates to are WAY-OFF at best.
Ron Paul is pulling votes from the full spectrum, most of which would never get polled by the AP, UPI, Zogby, or any of the other reporting pollsters.
Because most of the Ron Paul support comes from more than several third parties, disenchanted democrats, first time voters that registered just so they could vote for Ron Paul, and them of course the ones that did show in the mentioned polls.
Expect Ron Paul to shock the republican party, and the media, as well as the people that have been saying he’ll never make it.
This Ron Paul support is very real.
Because all that money came from individual voters, and not corporations or defense contractors.
If you don’t believe in what Ron Paul stands for…get ready to hold your nose.
Posted by: tumbleweedin | January 1, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Don’t think too many people that have made contributions to the Ron Paul campaign will not vote. Some even have used part of their Christmas money. They are not going to give their money and stand back and see what happens. They have made an investment in America’s future and will vote to see that it happens.
Posted by: Gin | January 1, 2008, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
I am one of those who did not vote in the past two elections and I do not have a landline. We have 5 cell phones in our family, why would we want another expense of a phone that is stuck to our house?
We are educated, professionally employed, we own two homes, three cars, have 7 children and 2 grandchildren.
Our family sat down at the Thanksgiving table and as is tradition each year – we all shared something we are thankful for.
Posted by: Patti | January 1, 2008, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
america has a candidate, with a 10 year record to back his position, to return our government to the constitution. what’s not to love, our founding fathers would be proud.
Posted by: paul | January 1, 2008, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
Actually, Ron Paul has a 20 year track record (re-elected 10 times in Congress). He has the best convervative voting record in Congress.
– No more meddling in other country”s political affairs
– No more aggressive military actions overseas
– No more torture prisons
– No more pseudo-wars like the “War on Drugs”
– No more IRS and unconstitutional income taxes
– No more Federal Reserve (the group of private banks which owns our government)
– No more erosion of Social Security to pay for militarization
– No more U.N. (one world government) participation
– No more NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO or GATT
– No more North American Union
– No more federal gun control laws
– No more illegal aliens pouring-in over our country”s borders
– No more illegal aliens allowed to roam freely in our streets
– No more national ID cards (Real ID Act)
– No more government invasion of your privacy
– No more federal Laws which are not authorized by The Constitution
– No more federal erosion of State sovereignty
– No more unlimited federal government
Posted by: greg | January 2, 2008, 12:15 am 12:15 am
The Ron Paul Express Train is barrelling down the tracks. MSM is looking left and it will come from the right with a stunning and breathtaking victory.
How many just plain stupid people are going to keep saying money needs to translate into support? Does it take a genius to figure out that each donation represents a tiny fraction of real people out there who will vote? Does it take a genius to figure out that polls are paid for by organizations that want a skewd outcome?
Ron Paul doesn’t “buy” votes or poll results.
Posted by: Angelo Pittsburgh, PA | January 2, 2008, 5:16 am 5:16 am
I support Ron Paul but I don’t believe the myth that the polls are only calling people who voted in the 2004 Rep primaries (which was hardly anyone).
I do not know what to make of the cell phone vs landline theory.
But I do know that a 10% finish for Ron Paul in most primaries would mean the death knell for the Republican Party unless it remembers its roots.
This 10% will not vote for the “eventual nominee” if that is not Ron Paul or a libertarian Republican.
Posted by: Jim Peterson | January 2, 2008, 6:38 am 6:38 am
I am 35, married with 3 children. My wife is Liberal, I am Conservative. We work, pay taxes and vote. This year is the 1st time that we can talk about politics with out wanting to kill each other. Ron Paul is for Liberals, Conservatives and everyone in between…. Ron Paul is for America! I dont care about the media, their polls or the pundants…. Tomorrow is Iowa, next week New Hampshire. We will see what if anything the polls really mean.
Posted by: jason | January 2, 2008, 11:59 am 11:59 am
The corporate Republicrats will do anything to maintain their stranglehold over the American people and our supposedly representative government. Dr. Paul had better hope for an honest, transparent voting procedure without the presence of paperless, computer based balloting. As for the Federal Reserve, the I.R.S., The National I.D. Card & the “Real I.D Act of 2005,” I advise all Americans to watch Aaron Russo’s 2006 documentary “America:
Freedom to Fascism”. Oops. Google pulled it after over 3 million viewings. Surprise, surprise…..
If Dr. Paul doesn’t win, we’re, well..
###. And the average American cares more about American Idol on TV than our
Bill of Rights. Wake up, idiots!!
Posted by: Chris | January 3, 2008, 2:08 am 2:08 am
I hope it isn’t an echo chamber I’m a ardent supporter of Dr. Paul and I really hope to see results tomorrow.
It may not even be that the media really understands why it doesn’t cover Paul, it’s flawed polls. Anyway the doom song isn’t pretty but it’s coming I thought I’d poke in and pass along the warning from David Walker our government’s top accountant:
GAO fiscal analysis
Dr. Paul needs to basically include this stuff in his campaign, that he will try and keep the country from going broke and facing a depression.
Posted by: DamnWilcox | January 3, 2008, 5:47 am 5:47 am