Ron Paul's fund-raising fades as reality sinks into followers

The political fund-raising of Rep. Ron Paul, which dominated the Republican presidential field as recently as December, is fading fast, apparently as his loyal followers' enthusiasm reflects the looming numerical reality of his long-shot campaign.

Paul filed his campaign's required financial reports with the Federal Election Commission over the weekend and said he raised a mere $123,523 in the entire month of March.

The same month, he disbursed nearly five times that much, including $3.90 to a Burger King in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and $72.08 to Chuck's Donuts in Renton, Wash., when the 72-year-old OB/GYN must have really had a sweet tooth.

Reports for other Republican candidates are below.

Paul's numbers are a far cry from the fourth quarter of 2007, when the 10-term Libertarian-like Texas representative received nearly $20 million from his fervent followers, 803,000 of whom cast Paul ballots in various primaries. Despite doing better in some places than far-better known GOP White House wannabes, Paul won only a...

handful of delegates to the Republican National Convention in Minnesota in September.

He -- and they -- will try to make the Ron Paul Revolution's points there, that the party has lost its conservative way and now stands for big government and foreign military intervention.

He's been hitting these same themes at sporadic campaign appearances around the country in recent weeks tied to promoting his new book. He remains on the ballot for Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary.

Paul's financial report, true to his conservative stance, shows he carries no campaign debt. He still has nearly $5.1 million in the bank from the $34.3 million he raised in the last year. He has frequently rejected a third-party run for the White House and said he intends to use the money in a long-term effort to change the GOP from within.

He has also said he will not be endorsing Sen. John McCain, who may or may not have been listening.

According to other Paul money details uncovered by The Times' intrepid Dan Morain, Paul paid off a bunch of conservative bills, including $5.35 to a Wal-Mart in Huntington, W. Va., and several expenses to In-N-Out Burgers, including two at the store in Sparks, Nev., on Jan. 20.

In other Republican money news, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, once the prohibitive GOP front-runner, reported raising a total of $64.9 million in his failed campaign and still has $3.4 million in debts. Last month he refunded nearly $3 million in general election donations.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee reported raising nearly $3 million in March for a campaign total of $15.9 million. He's still got $643,760 in cash and debts of only $36,002.

By the way, latimes.com has assembled campaign photo galleries for all these former candidates -- Huckabee's is here, Paul's is here and Giuliani's is here. Picture collections for other candidates of both parties are also available under their names on this page here.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo: Brett Flashnick / Associated Press

Comments

[Supporter]

There are not many states left that haven't had their primaries left. Much less money is needed now.

Now the focus is the conventions. Once again, Ron Paul supporters will fund themselves (air/hotels/etc) to do any and everything necessary to try to win at the conventions.

[Mike]

Great piece Mr. Malcolm. Patriots like you are what make this world go round.

[Rpche]

First!

[Dianne]

Thank you for the fair article. I think it is wonderful that the Ron Paul campaign has money in the bank, no debts, makes campaign appearances (mostly at no charge to attend), and eats at Burger King.

He has my respect. Dianne

[spinnikerca]

I'm not sure you are looking at the entire 'Ron Paul picture' when you only look at what has been donated to his campaign. I know that I've donated about $1500 in March to various 'local' efforts, air time and billboards and sample ballots, etc.

When Ron Paul said he'd continue in the Revolution and speak, but that we had to run it, he made it clear (at least it seemed so) that he wants that $5 million he has to support campaigns of likeminded folks with a strong chance to win their races, had they the money to do so.

That's fine.

It only let local meetups know that they had to finance the nuts and bolts, and that is what is happening. Ron Paul's campaign has nothing to do with it, no say on how the money is spent and no control over the ads.

But contributions continue.

I am waiting to contribute to his PAC until that promised paypal link on his PAC web page actually arrives as I have faith it will.

If Ron Paul told us he would run independent or third party, you would see the money to his campaign roll in. However, for the remainder of the Republican primary, the grass roots is organizing and paying for efforts I see, and that is where the donations are going.

Reality is what you make it.

[Celeste]

Reality? What would MSM know about reality or reporting it ? All Ron Paul would have to do is ask and he'd have another 6mil in 24 hours. We are waiting on go.

Ron Paul the only hope for America.

[RonBot]

More driveby media false reports.

RON PAUL supporters are alive and well.

The best is yet to come. Stay tuned

www.ronpaul2008.com

[Rallph]

Buaha, ha, ha, ha! Dr. Paul's followers are mustering their energy to energize the Republican conservative base by becoming delegates, running for elected office, and spreading the message of liberty to friends family's and co-workers. The Revolutin continues, thank you Dr. Paul! You cured my apathy!

[Will P.]

You crack me up. Instead of praising Dr. Paul for the responsible, conservative use of his campaign funds, you make fun of him. I'd like to know how McCain spend his funds. I'd also like to know, but never will, how many fancy dinners and gifts his lobbyist friends (campaign staff) paid for outside of normal campaign funds.

[brian]

Another crappy report by Andrew Malcom. What did McCain spend on lunch last Tuesday? Maybe that is newsworthy as well. Geez.

[Bill From Palm Beach]

Ummm... He stoped asking ofr funding... Duh... How bad of a reported does it take not to check the canidated website and see that hes not asking for money at the moment. The man has like 2+ million left and is just not waisting it if the mass media like your selves are going to continue to block his popularity. To all that read this go to www.DailyPaul.com and watch the video on who the mass media intentionally blocks Ron Paul at every turn.

[ed]

Paul is not a former candidate, he is a current candidate until he bows out officially. Get your facts straight. You've been corrected on this dozens of times, I'm sure.
You are just trying to rile up RP supporters and get hits to your column, Mr. Malcom.

[Jeffrey]

You categorize Ron Paul as a former candidate.
Do you research your facts before you begin writing?

[paul]

On your bio, Mr. Malcolm, it states that you learned an early life lesson of alphabetizing states.
Here is a late journalistic lesson since you have not learned it yet - verify your facts:

Ron Paul is still a candidate for president and has not ended his campaign nor withdrawn from the race.

You can say what you want about his chances, but he is still in it.

When/if he does exit the race, the Revolution will continue, don't worry. You'll have plenty of hit pieces to write about in the future.

[Elaine]

If it comes down to it write him in in November. Do not vote fro someone else just because you don't think Paul has a chance. I ,for one, will sleep better knowing that I
voted for who I want and not someone else because I thought that Paul had no chance of winning.
If you can become a deligate. If you have not voted yet do it for Paul.
If we all work together we will win this.

[Canuck Student]

How come Ron Paul whos still in the race gets only 7 photos while the others(WHO DROPPED OUT) get 14 each???
And howcome in the 3rd Photo description he is described as a Libertarian witha capital (L) while hes a Republican. Hes even Holding a Sign labelled "Republican Party" in the photo.

By the way even when Ron Paul ran for the Libertarian Party presidential ticket he remained a registered Republican. He is from a Republican family and was a Republican all his life. whoever made that photo page must of did it on purpose.

As for the article thnks Andrew Malcolm. I wish you updated it and mentioned how much the "nominee" John McCain has raised in March. Ill be interested to know that. Do you have any idea?

[Bill]

Why not make some calls to Alaska and Nevada and ask what happened to their Romney, now McCain national convention delegates?

[Carol]

While I understand the reality of Ron Paul's odds in this nomination, I think his message is too important to disappear just because he is not going to win. There are new people catching on all the time and it is vital that his message continues to be heard.

This may be hard for Republicans and Democrats to comprehend, but libertarians are not about power. They have always been motivated by ideas, whoever implements them....

You can easily see how the McCain's and the Hillary's of this world see everything through the lens of power. For them it is inconceivable to carry on with something if it will not gain you power over others. But libertarians don't want power over others. They want liberty for others.

I still donate to Ron Paul, but I am also sending funds to the Libertarian candidates, who have been politely waiting on the sidelines for Ron Paul to put forth the ideas -- and to resume the fight when he is done.

I'm now a Libertarian delegate at the National Convention.

Revolution....

[ted smith]

Ron Paul is America. If Ron Paul needs more money we will give it to him. We are Patriots for America. The Revolution is working. Ron Paul is Our greatest living American Patriot.

[Philip Blumel]

Ron's supporters may have stopped giving to Ron's campaign, but not to what they lovingly call the 'revolution.' Here in Florida, membership is surging in the Republican Liberty Caucus (www.rlcfl.org), a libertarian Republican network endorsed by Ron Paul, and on several local libertarian Republican candidates running on Ron's coat tails.

I love the spending details in your story. Ron didn't engender the enthusiasm he did by faking and pandering. He's the real thing.

[John]

LOL, oh this article is rubbish indeed ! Ron Paul is doing just fine right now. Unfortunately, MSM just wants Dr. Paul to fade away. That is not going to happen on our watch ! This September will prove to be very interesting times for sure. It's still a long road ahead for McCain. Remember, McCain has broken the very FEC public financing law he helped create. That's a fine of up to $25,000 and up to 5 years in jail. Why does America want a dishonest person like McCain in office? It bewilders the mind.

[mike]

Hey Andrew Malcolm,
why don't you get a life and try for a second to be an actual journalist and stop bashing Ron Paul with your ignorance and propaganda retardism. Ron Paul and those who support him and the ideas he spreads are taking care of our selves and doing the work that the journalist should be helping with. So go write a story about Paris Hilton because your boss tells you to and continue to be a tool and leave Ron Pual and his supporters alone with you proganda blogs. What has been done can never be undone no matter how many fake propoganda journalist try.

[belle]

Donuts and burgers? The responsible Ron Paul knows the value of a dollar (no $400 haircuts listed here!). The man walks the talk.

His book is a best seller and that means money. Anyone who buys it has made a contribution to his campaign in many ways.

You can have McClintobama. Dr. Paul is my choice for President.

[sean truitt]

top of the ticket traffic fades as ron paul stories dry-up.

how about some coverage of the freedom march on july 12?

[Paula]

Hey Andrew,
I'm a Ron Paul Republican and enjoy your artilcles on Ron Paul, but this particular piece does not have the inside scoop of what is really going on. We are working hard in the background
...Ron Paul Revolution is alive and well.