Drudge - RON PAUL: FUNDRAISING KING?

[Gurran]

From Drudge

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aCilYJ9OUudI&refer=home

[Laja]

Thanks for posting!

[Man from La Mancha]

Paul Rivals Clinton, Raising Almost $20 Million for Campaign

By Kristin Jensen

Jan. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Presidential candidate Ron Paul raised almost $20 million for his campaign in the last three months, potentially outpacing every one of his Republican rivals and putting his fundraising in league with Hillary Clinton's.

Paul, a U.S. representative from Texas, raised at least $19.5 million, according to a statement posted on his Web site. His campaign said today that he originally aimed to raise $12 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The take puts Paul on par with the top fundraisers in the Democratic Party, who outpaced Republicans last year. The campaign of New York Senator Clinton yesterday said she raised more than $100 million for the year, meaning she brought in at least $20 million in the fourth quarter.

Paul has drawn supporters with his libertarian message and his opposition to the war in Iraq, spurring a burst of donations on the Internet, the source of about 80 percent of the contributions last quarter, according to Paul spokesman Jesse Benton. In the three months through September, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani brought in the most contributions among Republicans, for a total of $11.5 million.

Presidential campaigns don't have to report fundraising figures until the end of January, though many give hints about their totals earlier than that. Arizona Senator John McCain, who's seeking the Republican presidential nomination, yesterday told reporters in New Hampshire that December was his best fundraising month since July. He gave no further details.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kristin Jensen in Iowa at kjensen@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 1, 2008 12:55 EST

[aspiringconstitutionalist]

I LOVE Drudge today! Right in the middle of the page is "Ron Paul: Fundraising King", then to the left is GOLD HITS ALL TIME HIGH in red, and on the right is OIL PRICES HIT ALL TIME HIGH in red.