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

[Jill Coppock]

Thank you for writing and posting this article of Ron Paul's fundraising success. Please print it in your paper!! We are excited to see what will become of all this. Is it any wonder why we love him? He is different on almost everything than the policitians who are running against him. Let freedom ring!

[art]

Wowee, another worthless BLOG post. Maybe this time almost 150 people will read it. Thanks for the crumbs.

Meanwhile, in the real, big-boy media world, the worthless MSM breathlessly covers a druggie actors death and still only reports on those candidates they deem frontrunners, while ignoring anybody else thus selecting our leaders for us).

[Phil]

Ron Paul Dues Ex Machina!

[Abe C.]

Thank you for this excellent post, Mr. Malcolm. Ron Paul's campaign is moving forward and we'll be in this thing all the way to St. Paul.

RON PAUL 2008!

[Joseph]

I would really have liked this article a little more if it didn't have the sarcastic tone about. "obviously word has gotten out to somebody for him to raise such sums". We are the somebodies "the people". We heard about Ron Paul from each other and the Internet and not from the MSM. The message is getting out. This week I have turned on at least 10 people on to Ron Paul and his platform. That is how word has gotten out by and the week isn't over yet.

[Jeffrey]

Fairness in media- acknowledged and appreciated LA Times!
That's all any of us have asked in the coverage of this race.
I'm sure even the most cynical of Paul supporters have been suprised how blatent the bias against this one candidate has been.
Thank you again!

[Jaynee]

Great article, but I must ask, why are these always in the blogs and NOT in the hard copies?

[Josh]

To clarify, he raised this money with donations and in most instances the average donatation was between $50-$75 per donor. Unlike Romney who uses his own money this shows that their is genuine support and the support that he receives does turn into votes. Unfortunately, what this also shows is that the supporters he has are very serious and vote and donate but the numbers only reflect between 5-10% of Americans. This is where the blackout of media plays its role. Those that become supporters become serious supporters but if his message is restrained it limits the outreach. Therefore, you have people that still have never heard of him and right now these people think they only have two choices between McCain and Romney. It cannot be denied that there is unfair treatment of Ron Paul in the media and soon Huckabee will feel the same as he did in the last debate. Sorry Huckabee but you just joined Ron Paul as being written off. The only way we can counter this persuasive media coverage is to spread the word that there are still four candidates and not two in the GOP.

[H]

I think if Ron Paul had gotten a little more attention from the mainstream media he'd have done better at the polls. He was dismissed outright as a lunatic fringer by the MSM, but he has some valid ideas.

While I am not a supporter he did pose some very refreshing views that no other candidate would ever mention, but that made me stop and think. Why, just as an example, are taxpayers footing the bill for keeping US troops in Germany, Korea and Japan some 55 YEARS or more after the conflicts ended? Our government is bankrupt and yet we keep spending--which devalues the dollar--he's the only candidate that has pointed that out again and again, and people responded to him, hearing what they know to be true. I wish his best ideas had gotten more play, if not his candidacy, for the sake of democracy.

[Tonya]

Thank you for mentioning www.ronpaul2008.com ! McCain, Romney, and Huckabee won't be able to beat Hillary. But with Ron Paul's anti-war message, we will be able to swing a lot of Independents while keeping true to our Conservative Republican values. Thank you again and I'd like to hear more about Republican Ron Paul.

[Fed Up]

Andrew Malcolm , nice story and so refreshing to hear the truth!

For those who want more of the truth, please read my blog: The Ron Paul rEVOLution, Super Tuesday and "The Message!" - as it really is about "The Message!"

Just click on my name "Fed Up" - you might just learn a little bit about the Federal Reserve and inflation!

Peace!

[Bob Brereton]

Thank you very much for giving some coverage of Ron Paul. The corporate media has been not only unfair to a man that is a viable candidate, they have actually been on a witch hunt to try to undermine his campaign.
Thanks again and GO RON PAUL.

[t quigly]

With InsaneMcCain being pushed by the MSM as faux frontrunner, people are freaked at the specter of this mumbling, stumbling warmonger Neocon toady (who also admits he knows Nothing about economics - during our economic crisis) as prez.
For weeks, the Ron Paul campaign averaged $2,000 - $3,000 per hour. But during George's SOTU, hourly donations shot up to $10,000 per hour for 3 hours !! (Bush as Ron Paul's star fundraiser?) Afterwards it leveled off to $7,000/hour. Today, 2/1, 11 hrs into the Ron&Carol Paul 51st-Anniversary Lovebomb, it's at $31,000/hr with 3,800 donors (over 500 new donors).
No, the 4th quarter (& 1st quarter 2008) totals are a 'shocker' only to the MSM who have deliberately blinded themselves to the Ron Paul rEVOLution. To them, we send this message: 'Your old road is rapidly fadin'. Get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand, For the times they are a changin'.'
RonPaulForPresident2008.com is a great site for info - educate yourself !!

[Kelle]

I just caught a Huckabee ad where he is now claiming that HE wants to abolish the IRS...
in bold print! How is it a crazy concept one minute, and adopted as mainstream the next?
I guess it's true what they say...imitation is the sincerest form of flattery :)

[Douglas Ward]

The CNN/LA TIMES "debate" was a sham. There are powerful forces working to prevent voters from considering Ron Paul. This "debate" proved that, when Ron Paul was ignored or if he did get a question was cut off while he was speaking. The finances of this Country are in big trouble and the only candidate who would try to straighten it out is being is not given a fair chance to win. Very sad.

[lester]

thank yuo for reporting the simly fact of Ron Pauls fundraising. something the Boston Globe was not able to do for some reason, though they included candidates who are not even running anymore. They also misreported that Fred Thompson beat Ron Paul by 2 % points when it was the other way around in Michigan. But there's no press conspiracy against this candidate

[Martin Zea]

I agree that it really is no suprise. Ron Paul supporters comprise the majority of the United States. Ron Paul's campaign has been entirely a function of the internet ,with the lack of corporate (minority) controlled media coverage (When is the last time an 18-30 year old watched the news?). In 2003 62% of America was reported to have access to the Internet. What do you think it is today? Do you really believe the internet does not represent the voice of the people?

www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/p23-208.pdf

[Ken]

Why is this a shocker? Ron Paul's web site and his supporters have been very vocal and transparent about the money coming in.

The Ron Paul needs all of this money because he's not getting all of the FREE coverage from the main stream media (TV news and newspapers). Ron Paul is not trying to BUY the Presidency, like Romney...rather he is not getting that free exposure to the non-thinking TV watchers and the size of Ron Paul's contributions shows his grassroots support is very large, none of the other GOP candidates have such grassroots support...but lacking the TV and newspaper propaganda the candidates media has deemed are front runners...we are having to have Ron Paul run and fly all over the country to speak at events (he's amazingly in shape for his age and in better shape than most 55 year olds), and we as grassroots supporters are having to bypass the TV and newspapers by using the internet and talking to our neighbors. This takes a lot more effort than the efforts behind those like Romney and McCain who essentially sit back while the media continuously focus on them, such that if TV is where you get your information from...you'd never know Ron Paul exists.

New people, such as Tucker Carlson, have been threatened with being fired if they talk about Ron Paul. Conspiracy? You tell me.

[Derek Williams]

Andrew,
You rock. Keep up the good work.
"...IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A MAJORITY TO PREVAIL, BUT RATHER AN IRATE, TIRELESS MINORITY KEEN TO SET BRUSH FIRES IN PEOPLE'S MINDS.." --Samuel Adams

VOTE RON PAUL

[mistermr]

Good women and men of Los Angeles, I write to you from the cold midwest. It appears that MSNBC presented polling results for a question phrased something like "who is the most conservative republican candidate?" and cite it as a USA Today/Gallop poll. Now the results were posted as McCain 37%, Romney 22% and Huckabee 17%. Those percentages add up to 76% leaving an unexplained 24% as the fourth amount. Ron Paul is the fourth contender for the GOP nomination. Do you folks out in Los Angeles have an explanation for this.

[TTexas]

On November 5, 2008, the Drudge headline will be:

"Bloggers WIN Media LOSES!"

[DABIGRAGI]

Andrew: I take back what I said the other day, I will now be reading your column again, thank you for the fair overview.
You have proven to me, by this article, you can't be bought, doesn't it feel good!

[K. Priscilla Jones]

When can we see this as a headline on the front page of the L.A. Times? If I hadn't stumbled upon your great blog, I wouldn't have known that my small but frequent donations to Ron Paul's campaign helped him to beat out the entire pot of RINO Soup a la GOP. Ron Paul is the only real choice we have. The others are more of the same, regardless of their party.

[Ken Moffett]

Ron Paul is running a very smart campaign. and a fiscally responsible one too. All others mentioned in your article are running deficits, especially Romney. Ron is still in the race and continues to build momentum. He may raise $15 million or more in in quarter one. Additionally he will over time become a household word and his intelligence and integrity will continue to shine as a light in the political world. And even if he does not win this time, he is laying th groundwork for a much stronger bid in 2012. By that time if America contnues it present profligate ways, the problems, economic, political, social and military will only be seriously aggrevated.

[Linda]

I am sure Huckabee supporters are now getting a "taste" of what Ron Paul supporters have been dealing with since day one. Not a good feeling, no matter who your candidate is. So many media outlets have let the American people down and condinue to do so.

Thank you for your article.
48 yr old RP voter