News shocker: Ron Paul was biggest GOP fundraiser last quarter

Well, it's official, ladies and gentlemen. Believe it or not, Rep. Ron Paul, the 72-year-old Texan who hardly ever gets mentioned in Republican political news and the one-time libertarian who always gets the least time on TV debates if he isn't barred completely, was, in fact, the most successful Republican fundraiser in the last three months of 2007.

By a Texas mile.

By the thousands, Paul's fervent followers donated $19.95 million to the "Ron Paul Revolution." He spent $17.75 million, and at year's end, had $7.8 million cash on hand, making him the only Republican candidate to increase his fundraising totals in every quarter of 2007. According to his website, Paul's Paulunteers have contributed another $4.1 million this month to...

fuel the strict constitutionalist's travels and advertising campaign.

Compare that impressive financial success with, say, ex-candidate Rudy Giuliani, who raised only $14.4 million from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 and spent $18.2 million.

Or the departed Fred Thompson, who collected $8.9 million and spent $13.9 million.

Or even the newly-minted Republican front-runner Sen. John McCain, who raked in only $9.9 million, spent $10.5 million and had only $2.9 million cash in hand. Of course, McCain's string of primary victories in January will have boosted his financial fortunes. Everybody loves a winner.

Mitt Romney actually raised only $9.2 million from other people last quarter, less than half of Paul's haul. However, the former Massachusetts governor -- and if he keeps spending at this rate, the quite possibly former multimillionaire -- gave himself $18 million more of his own money last fall for a total of $27.2 million and $2.4 million cash on hand.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who's had trouble raising money, issued an unusual statement Thursday night. "My presidential campaign," he said, "has defied the odds and will continue to do so, as we head into the Super Tuesday primaries, proving the power of message over money and mechanics."

The statement did not include any Huckabee figures for the fourth quarter. Which suggests that the winner of the Republican caucuses in Iowa didn't have a very good fourth quarter.

So a certain suspicious blogger, led by the experienced hand of The Times' campaign finance expert Dan Morain, went to the website of the Federal Election Commission and looked up Huckabee's fourth-quarter report. It seems he raised about $6.7 million, a third of Paul's sum, while spending $7.08 million, leaving him on New Year's Eve with cash on hand of only $651,300.68. No wonder he didn't mention numbers in the news release.

Now, this month Huckabee will have received some donations after his Jan. 3 Iowa win. But it does raise serious questions about how long the Arkansan can continue to compete after Feb. 5 or even how much he can do before other than get on as many free radio and TV shows as possible.

Paul, who's done well in some symbolic straw polls and little-noticed state caucuses until his best showing so far as a second-place finisher to Romney in the Nevada caucuses, has repeatedly disavowed a third-party effort if his bid to be the Republican nominee in St. Paul next summer falls short.

His determined followers maintain that a news media conspiracy is holding down Paul's success at the polls, although obviously word has gotten out to somebody for him to raise such sums. Paul's outspoken stands, including withdrawal from Iraq and drastic downsizing of the federal government, run counter to each of his GOP competitors.

As for Paul's campaign, his loyal troops plan another "money bomb," a big fundraising day, today in honor of Ron and Carol Paul's 51st wedding anniversary. One of the obvious gifts: the undisputed GOP fundraising championship for the last three months of 2007.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[George]

Anyone who doesn't see that Ron Paul is treated like a red-headed stepchild that stole something is exactly just a moron.
Why is it that in a so-called democratic process, we don't get to hear equally from each candidate about the issues? Instead we, the voters, are subjected to the two most destructive candidates that the powers that be, and that's not Bush and Cheney, want to be president. That's in either party, although we have been educated enough now that we realize there are NO two parties they are all in one accord.
I'm amazed that the L.A. Times even mention Ron Paul, although they even put their snubbed remarks in places they need not be. Why don't they print about Clinton being a member of the Bilderberg Group, or that all candidates on the stage, with the exception of Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee are ALL members of the Council for Foreign Relations?
Ron Paul has the only answer to the problems of our nation, although the others know they will never speak of it, and that's the pure unadulterated FACT that the Federal Reserve must be abolished. We, as a nation, will never control our destiny, our government, our economy, and most of all our FUTURE, until we control our currency.
Would you allow someone in England to have full control of your money, being unaccountable to you, and gives you your money with immediate interest attached to it? That's the short short version but still the fact. Ron Paul is the only candidate that speaks of the REAL issues as why we have recessions, inflation, over spending, a 9.2 trillion dollar debt, and we have sent our military all over the world to improve the profiting of a hand full of elitists that would eliminate you as soon as look at you. Until we Americans realize that until we, Americans, are in control of our own currency, and NOT International Private Bankers, we will always be at the mercy of what they want to do.
There's a much larger picture here folks, forget about the politics, it's only entertainment.
We were sold out by Woodrow Wilson in 1913 with the signing of the 13th Amendment, and until it's repealed we stand NO chance of a better life, only the life that the ones who control our currency ever allow us, nothing more.
There are only two problems with our government and our nation, and that's the Federal Reserve Bank (a private bank of international bankers and international interests), and the IRS (International Racketeering Scums) who are in essence their collection agency. Yet, NO candidate will even imagine speaking of this except RON PAUL !!!! And you wonder why the media is snubbing him? If we repealed the 13th Amendment, it would end the reign of corporate and bank and government fleecing of the American taxpayers, and they would have to play by the Rules of the Constitution, and they aren't having that. What would a politician do if he could only spend what he bought in? I think they'd quit the job.
Please America, get educated to the facts of why we are where we're at with our economy, our government, all the corruption, and you'll realize too that it all started with the signing of the 13th Amendment, which even in itself has questionable validity. Let's band together and take back the control of our currency.

[Tom]

People vote with their pocketbooks. But they don't vote with their vote?????

Is that the message here? People contribute to a candidate. Canvass for him, post signs, talk about him but when the time comes they don't get out and vote for him. Sounds logical to me; how about you?

The war is unpopular but John McCain is the frontrunner. Sounds logical.

How long before the words "election fraud" start to get traction in the CNN and FOX newsrooms? I'm just watching the board and something doesn't make sense. Maybe Bill O"Reilly or some smart person like that can explain this obvious disconnect we are witnessing.

Did Ron Paul get 77% in the online poll after the Ronald Reagan Simi Valley debate?

Did Ron Paul get 77% of the vote in the computer poll or did I just hallucinate that?

[john]

The tight media grip is UN-AMERICAN and the media blackout by LA Times, CNN, FOX, and just about EVERY major media outlet has just confirmed to me we don't live in a free country. We are slaves to the creditors that control EVERYTHING! The not only control our money and labor, but our thoughts. They steal our wealth and tell us who to vote for. You need to wake up Andrew and realize that this once great nation is no longer great, and freedom no longer exists in America. The very people you work for are traitors to the republic. Ron Paul supporters are REAL American heros in the country. The supporters are ridiculed, ignored, slandered, yet we go on...because unlike the majority of the weak, cowardly, spineless, population, Ron Paul's campaign courageously takes on the establishment. I'm sick of it...I spit on all the editors of the media...get the tar and feathers! The American people are so dumb; while we all recognize who and why to all of our problems stem from and trying to solve it peacefully, the media treats Rep Dr. Ron Paul and his supporters like dirt. I was born 1975 and now know what the soldiers feel like coming home from Vietnam. This is not the America I know; once the dollar crashes, all you people can remember who tried to warn you. When our own government brings more tyranny down to it's own people, you can remember Ron Paul's message and ask yourself what you did to stop it. I know one thing, I refuse to live like a coward...I will never succumb to this system of control and will always find ways to stop it.

[Dixon]

Good article. I just noticed Fake(fox) News posted these results and failed to put Ron Paul in the list.
Good reporting L A Times. People can see how large a group we are, and how commited we are to the cause of America and its Constitution. I'm poor and I plan to max out my $2,300 limit. I make $ 20,000 a year so that's a big chunk of my wages, but this is the most important thing I've ever been involved in.
God bless

[Gordon Kahan]

You can look at Paul's "lack of success" in the primaries and caucuses in two ways: either he has tons of support (as demonstrated by contributions received) but those people somehow don't bother to support him at the polls OR there is something Terribly Wrong with our supposed democracy, in that all this fervent is being suppressed by an anti-democratic two party system. Paul may belong to the Republican party but he doesn't represent what the Republican party is today: corporate/fascist, dedicated to the destruction of the Bill of Rights. Considering the strangle-hold the small corporate elite has on the media, as well as both political parties (Republican and Democrat) I think Paul's best bet is to stay in the race and continue making Romney and McCain look completely out of touch at the debates. Then, once he gets the inevitable snub from the Republican Convention he should go out and scare the $@#^ out the of the establishment by running as an Independent, where I feel he has a legitimate shot, providing we can somehow manage to get vote fraud under control (which isn't likely) Bottom line: our democracy is under attack! From rigged parties to non-independent media to felons running computerized vote stealing machines our individual rights are eroding faster than the dollar. I'm a former life-long Democrat who has give to Paul just to have the pleasure of having my opinions voiced by the only person left in the presidential race with any sense.

[number9]

not a smackdown, but why not at least be complete in your reporting?

mr. paul exceeded the efforts of the "smartest woman in the world" - yes, the one who, 35 years ago went to bat for "the" children - because her attempt to enter washington d.c. politics was turned back - by failing to pass the bar exam.

anyhoo, ms. clinton used her senate stash of cash, oh, around 'bouts 10mil or so, to boost her Q4 intake. it is after all, a race of perceptions...
-------

http://zeromotivation.com/why_they_attacked_us.html

[George]

I keep attempting to put comments on here about abolishing the Federal Reserve and the Criminal Organization affiliated with it, the IRS. But it never posts!!
How big is this political and monetary criminal organization of elitists?
They not only control our money, but all the news, the newspapers, the government, the judges, damn......all this because we signed the 13th Amendment and let the Fox guard the hen house.
Please stop talking about politics it sucks you in just like TV!!
There are no politics, just manipulation of what you should believe.
It's abolish the Federal Reserve and send that evil Rockefeller back to hell, or NOTHING changes!!

Nothing else should even to talked about, it's what's killing our nation, our health care, our education, yet we still blog away at this political non sense..

If you want to fill a blog, talk about abolishing the Federal Reserve and the IRS. Make a difference in what you say....wake people up. Will it take your pension plan to disappear, your savings accounts to be wiped out, your house to be foreclosed on, your car repossessed, these people will not stop until they have destroyed American, if not by design, then by ignorance, or by sheer evil doings.

We can stop them by abolishing the Federal Reserve and controlling our own currency. Since when (well 1913) did we accept the fact that an American can't handle our currency?

No wonder most the world thinks we're idiots!

[Aaron]

THANK YOU FOR GIVING A LIL' RESPECT!!!

[robbie]

Ok, let me get this straight. The country is in an economic crisis and in need of a leader who understands the root cause of this crisis and has a good plan. The candidates who are running get money for their campaigns from different sources (income) and they spend that income, telling people their plan for the country. At quarter end, their books are examined and only one candidate shows a surplus, with consistent growth from quarter to quarter. All the other candidates are using their own savings, borrowing on future prospective income revenue or running a deficit.

Like my Blessed Mother use to say...watch what they do, not what they say. My choice, based on the countries needs and the facts presented, is Ron Paul.

[Martin]

Ron Paul is Soy Bomb . . . . .

But then again isn't all art Soy Bomb?

[federico sixto]

ANDERSON COOPER is a lier and extremely rude he falsely promises to Ron Paul and Huckabee that they will get plenty of time to answer questions THEN renegs and just either cuts RON PAUL off in the middle of his answer or totally ignores him...WHO is PAYING him(Anderson Cooper) to steer this election process!?

[Jackie Lange]

All that money is great but it is not translating in to VOTES.

The winner is the person with the most votes, not the person who raised the most money.

I support Ron Paul. I want to know why his financial supporters are not showing up at the voting booths. I want to know what is he spending the money on to get votes - because it sure is not working.

We NEED Ron Paul!! He is the only one who can clean up the MESS in DC. But money alone won't get him to the White House. VOTE Ron Paul!

[Jake]

Andrew,

Thank you for writing a fair, balanced article on Dr. Paul. You've restored my faith in journalism. I'll be pitching in my $51 today for Dr. Paul and his wife Carol's 51st anniversary.

[Bruno]

This article is typical of Ron Paul's campaign....it's not written in the actual LA Times Newspaper, just online. All of Ron's support and information about him is only online. The MainStreamMedia doesn't allow him but a few minutes a week of airtime and that's including the debates...Does he have Romney's looks? No. Does he speak as articulately as Romney? No. Are his ideas and message better than Romney's? Yes.

[Greg]

Not only diod Ron Paul raise more money, but he spent less than he raised. GEE I wander who the true fiscal conservitive is? It clear that everone else believe in deficit spending. Actions speak louder than words

[Paul]

Thank you for a fair article - All other sources (esp. aol, fox, and msnbc) seem very biased. Thanks for reporting the news.

[DeeDee in Fl]

Thank you Andrew! Ron Paul is the only voice of reason in the Republican party. Please continue to write articles on his progress! CA check him out at RonPaul2008.com!! Vote Ron Paul on super Tuesday, vote for Freedom!! And, vote for the only Republican that has any chance of beating the democrats. I will not be a sheep and blindly support the Republican party, both Hillary and Obama look better to me then the rest of the war mongers. VOTE RON PAUL!

[Drew]

Want a reason to support Ron Paul? How about his stance that the IRS should be abolished?

Here is a brief (non-comprehensive) list of taxes we pay that did not exist 100 years ago. Around the same period of time that we were the most prosperous nation in the world, we had the largest middle class in the world and families could live more than comfortably on a single source of income:

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

[b]If the IRS were eliminated and the Federal Income Tax was abolished, the US would have about the same revenue as it did in the year 2000. Coupled with reduced foreign aid and foreign military operations, the US would still operate with a budget surplus larger than any living American has ever seen.

[James]

I missed the first thirty minutes or so of the most recent republican debate, but during the part that I did see, I kept a tally of the number of questions each candidate had. Mr. McCain had 12 questions, Mr. Romney had 11, Mr. Huckabee had 7, Ron Paul had 4. So, I think these arguments about media bias against Ron Paul are something to be considered.

[Atley Jackson]

Thank you for this example of true journalism. It would seem that there are a few people out there who still have integrity and know how to do the right thing.

To all you Anti-Ron Paul people. I am a Ron Paul supporter; however, even after admitting that I constantly update myself on the progress and stances of all candidates in case my mind were to chance. This is what the average voter needs to do. I ask you to research Ron Paul. The reason his supporters seem so loud is because we believe our candidate is the only candidate that will bring the US back to its feet.

[Jenna]

Not only has Ron Paul raise the most, but he appears to be the only candidate that has demonstrated Fiscal Responsibility with those funds. Think about this.... the other candidates have reported negative spending numbers....they're in the hole folks. Could it be, that their campaign spending habits are a precurser to how they would handle our countrys purse strings?

I for one, am beyond fed up with growing national debt, irresponsible spending, and devaluation of the American dollar.

[Thomas A. O'Brien]

Andrew,

Thank you once again for the objective summary regarding Ron Paul 2008! The other candidates were mum about their funding throughout the entire quarter and we all suspected why - now it is confirmed. Some pretty bad ink for most!

it would appear that many uninformed Americans had cast their primary votes for "fringe" candidates and literary -threw their money away! I hope people realize that these same candidates are displaying their acute "economic" talents right before our eyes. The only candidate that is flush and has any money to visit or advertise in the vast Super Tuesday states is Ron Paul!

Ron Pal hasn't had to sell his soul to lobbyists, corporate bundling or the military industrial complex - one wonders just how many "promises" the other candidates have had to make just to get bus fare and a coke and some fries?

Best wishes to you!

[James]

I missed the first thirty minutes or so of the most recent republican debate, but during the part that I did see, I kept a tally of the number of questions each candidate had. Mr. McCain had 12 questions, Mr. Romney had 11, Mr. Huckabee had 7, Ron Paul had 4. So, I think these arguments about media bias against Ron Paul are something to be considered.

[job]

Don't let the POWER ELITE get you discouraged, everyone should estimate the cost (i.e. time, energy, unpopularity, hunger, et. al.) and continue undaunted, to be counted among the brave! WE must take back ownership of the government and our country. Persevere, encouraged and strengthened by truth! Be glad that you are awake and not asleep to the truth. (even though being awakened is frightening). Be thankful and undetered in resolve. We are fighting for our and our children's freedom!
Ron Paul is my hero!
Job

[Bobby]

"His determined followers maintain that a news media conspiracy is holding down Paul's success at the polls, although obviously word has gotten out to somebody for him to raise such sums."

Word has gotten out, through the Internet. A vast majority of his coverage is coming from blogs like this, and other Internet media outlets. Traditional media is blacking him out.

It's not necessarily an overt "conspiracy", it may just be group think. Whatever it is, its real. Ron Paul bested Rudy Giuliani in most of the early primaries. Despite this, traditional media neglected to mention Paul in coverage that did mention Giuliani. You mentioned him being denied spots in debates, what about MSNBC's debate right before the Florida primaries? Paul wins more primaries than Giuliani, and gets half the speaking time during the debates:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/24/607248.aspx

There are many, many more examples like this. And it is unbelievably frustrating. I canvassed for Paul right before the NH primary, speaking to people who indicated an interest in him. About 1/4 of the people I spoke to said they liked his platform best but, "has no chance". In a race with no clear front runner, where every percentage point was crucial, it was absolutely devastating to his campaign.