RSS 2.0 FeedRon Paul Exceeds 2nd Quarter Fundraising Numbers, But By How Much
by Doug MataconisThe Wall Street Journal is reporting that Ron Paul exceeded his second-quarter fundraising numbers, bringing in about $ 3 million in the third quarter:
While both Democrats and Republicans in the presidential race are finding it more difficult to pass the hat as their big donors hit federal giving limits, the trajectory for the Texas Republican keeps climbing.
The antiwar libertarian raised more than $3 million in the third quarter, up from $2.4 million in the second quarter and $641,000 in the first three months of the year.
For the three months ended Sept. 30, Paul out-raised old Washington hands including Democrats Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who took in $1.5 million, and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who raised just under $2 million.
For the year, Paul has collected around $6 million. He remains stuck in national polls at around 5% or less — about the same level of support as another Republican dark horse, Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor.
The well-spoken Huckabee placed second in the Ames, Iowa, straw poll this summer and is a favorite among Beltway pundits. But so far, his campaign is staying mum on his third-quarter fund-raising numbers, suggesting that they haven’t dramatically improved from the $766,000 Huckabee raised in the second quarter.
MSNBC is reporting similar numbers:
Dark-horse Republican candidate Ron Paul will report third quarter fundraising totals that exceed his $2.4 million take in Q2. According to communications director Jesse Benton, Paul raised $1.2 million alone in the last week during a down-to-the-wire online fundraising drive. The announcement comes after last week’s New Hampshire trip for Rep. Paul, which included a rally attended by about 800 people and a major canvassing drive in the Granite State. The Ron Paul campaign expects to report its final third-quarter numbers later this week.
Some pro-Paul comments on both stories are saying that the 3 million number is too low, but only time will tell if that’s the case.
It’s called frontrunning a story. Betsy Wright did if for Bill Clinton in 1992. Whenever some bimbo was about to enter the campaign mix, they would front run with leaks etc. to innoculate Clinton against an onslaught of bad media attention. The higher the decibel level the brighter the news appeared on the radar screen. Her goal was to keep bad news in whisper mode. With Paul’s 3Q numbers it is the same technique applied in the opposite way…dribble dribble, then the real news and then, “ho-hum that’s old news”.
Comment by Skip — October 2, 2007 @ 8:02 amidk, 3M is less than I would have hoped for. He should start passing out schwag for free to meetups and stuff. we all know he isnt going to spend shit for awhile until matching funds day anyway.
Comment by oilnwater — October 2, 2007 @ 8:11 amPaul didn’t take matching funds in ’88. He didn’t accept government payments from his patients when he was a practicing physician and didn’t allow his children to take out government backed student loans . I don’t think he’ll take matching funds this time.
Comment by Bob — October 2, 2007 @ 8:26 ami wish he would take it this time. how the f*** else does anyone expect him to compete, i mean wtf
Comment by oilnwater — October 2, 2007 @ 8:40 amI think 3 million is about a half million too low. Along with the online contributions, I’m sure Paul recieved a few traditional letter contributions in the final wrapup of the term and if they were close to 2.4 million before the last week, I think they recieved atleast 1.3-1.4 million in the final week, putting them anywhere from 3.2 million at the low end to 3.8 million at the high end. I’m splitting the difference and saying 3.5 is Paul’s final tally. Considering that McCain ONLY recieved 5 million, that put’s Paul solidly in the 1.5 tier for donations in the republican party.
Comment by Greg — October 2, 2007 @ 8:46 amHe expects to compete with a grassroots campaign, where the supporters provide a lot of *free* labor and promotion.
Mitt Romney regularly buses in supporters. Ron Paul supporters drive themselves. One has a cost, the other does not.
Comment by Cliff Note — October 2, 2007 @ 8:54 amAnything above 3 million will be dandy with me. Meanwhile it looks like Huckster hasn’t taken off yet despite a desperate attempt by the media to prod him onto the stage.
-Chad
Comment by Chad — October 2, 2007 @ 9:11 amWho Is Paying For Your Vote To Keep Control Of You And To Keep This War Going? Remember The Bankers Hold The Stock In Companies That Are Getting Billions In War Contracts!
Obama’s Contributers: bankers / Special interest!
http://tinyurl.com/2nd4f8
Hillary Clinton’s Contributers Lawyers / RealEstate:
http://tinyurl.com/2ontpq
Rudy GIULIANI Contributors: Bankers / Hedge Funds!
http://tinyurl.com/2m2c4n
Ron Pauls Money Is From the People! We have someone who is NOT Paid Off By Special Interest or Bankers Money!!!
http://tinyurl.com/2q8vr3
If you ever want this War to End Vote Ron Paul 2008, No One Else Is Going To End It!
Comment by Steve — October 2, 2007 @ 9:29 amhttp://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues
Still laughing at Skip’s “analysis.” Best guess is RP raised in the $5 million range for the third quarter. Probably annouce on Thursday.
Comment by Gene — October 2, 2007 @ 9:35 amall wrong, i’m still saying 10M +
Comment by Mike — October 2, 2007 @ 9:56 amlol, get real Mike.
3.5 – 4M
Comment by oilnwater — October 2, 2007 @ 10:05 amThe big question in my mind is: How much did Ron Paul spend? If he kept his spending under 1 million then he could be sitting on $5 million plus. (2.4 from Q2 + (2.4 minimum Q3 prior to final week + 1.2 final week) – 1 spent) = 5
Since Dr. Paul doesn’t borrow, he could be looking at more spendable money in the campaign account than McCain, Thompson, or Romney.
Whatever we gave last quarter, we will have to double it (if we can) this quarter, as well as recruit new supporters.
I think the sub 1 million spending is very likely considering the grassroots in-kind contributions. For just one small self-congraultory example: I am about to get a 1-800 virtual number (via Vonage) to reach out to non-internet conservatives in my state.
Comment by Kevin Houston — October 2, 2007 @ 10:08 amMike,
Comment by Bob — October 2, 2007 @ 10:24 amIt was such an unusual event that for most of the quarter the Paul campaign issued a press release whenever they had a $100k day. Do the math, (there are 90 days in a quarter)that makes it highly unlikely they did $10M for the quarter.
Here’s the math I think applies.
Let’s say Paul averages 10k/day (with a few anomolies). Given 90 days, that’s 900K base donations. Then add the donations we know about that were large amounts (1.2 million from the last 7 days, 450k from the fill the quill, 500k for one of the dinners, 300k from another fundraising thing I recall)
300+ 1200 +500 +450 +900 = 3.35 million. I think that’s fairly good number to start off with and about what we should expect.
Comment by Greg — October 2, 2007 @ 11:06 amI think the amount is well over 3 million, but if that’s the case, I think it’s a bad strategy to leak low-ball numbers. A few national outlets have already run the low numbers, so people tune out and move on.
If they don’t know the exact totals (and they should have a very good idea, it’s just addition), they shouldn’t be saying anything.
Comment by Craig — October 2, 2007 @ 11:07 amCraig,
The campaign hasn’t leaked any numbers. The WSJ report everyone is citing as authoritative was based on the reporter’s misreading of a Jesse Benton comment.
No one’s fault but the WSJ’s.
Comment by Buckwheat — October 2, 2007 @ 12:36 pmHmm, I would say that the 3 million is the absolute lower bound for Dr. Paul’s campaign contributions. I would put the expected daily contribution at around 50k per day for 4.5 million over the course of the 3 months.
The last week’s internet based donation drive was at 170k per day pace. I would place the upper limit at 80k per day on average or about 7 million. Paul seems to attract quite a bit of internet based donations. Those donations are better dollar for dollar.
Comment by TanGeng — October 2, 2007 @ 2:42 pm$3M is sourced where? Nothing official from the campaign yet.
My own guess, based on what I’ve been following, a lot closer than the WSJ and MSNBC and the rest of the Old Media, is $4.5-5M.
Of course, that, too, is just as much of a WAG as they made. The difference is that I did some homework and actually support the good doctor. :)
Comment by Tannim — October 2, 2007 @ 5:50 pmPaul’s setting a goal of 12 million next quarter. I wonder if that means anything….
Comment by Greg — October 2, 2007 @ 7:58 pmI still say 6.5 milion. We can account for 3 million just from online donations and mini campaigns; 3500 donations for the Fill the Quill, the meetup contest, the birthday gift, news of West coast fundraising and the night in Texas.
I think the background donations would be the same as Q2 (if not even more due to his gaining popularity)
I have only been a supporter since July so I am not certain if the ron paul website had any online mini-campaigns in Q2 – Did they?
Obviously people send him hand written checks – I know my mom sent $100 by mail (I had to show her some youtube clips but she fell in love with Ron Paul immediately. (Thanks arovath, from youtube)
I also think his goal of 12 M is indicative of the 3 Q’s fundraising achievement. Double it each quarter!
Comment by a Patriot — October 3, 2007 @ 12:25 pmWell, it’s official now, and my estimate was spot on…RP raises $5.08M 3rd quarter.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2007/10/exclusive_paul_tops_5_mil_for.html
Comment by Gene — October 3, 2007 @ 1:10 pmAwesome job people!
And we haven’t come close to tapping out!
Most of us can still give much more before we hit the 2300 limit. We can also do more with signs, letters, bugging neighbors, emails, talking to people at gas stations, in line antwhere, at the mall…
Let’s keep it going, it’s working!
Elect Ron Paul!
Comment by Rahn — October 3, 2007 @ 2:30 pm[...] attended by about 800 people and a major canvassing drive i n the Granite State…. source: Ron Paul Exceeds 2nd Quarter Fundraising Numbers, But By How Much, The Liberty [...]
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