Ron Paul Pulls Ahead of John McCain

Posted by Eric F. Langborgh on 07 Jul 2007 at 08:41 am

CNN reports that GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul now has more money on hand than the once-front running John McCain. The floundering McCain campaign is spending money faster than he can raise it in what appears to keep his now-seemingly futile bid for the White House alive. Meanwhile, the constitutionalist candidate from Texas reports success in raising $2.4 million in the second quarter — a 140% surge over his first quarter total — and Paul’s efficiently-run campaign has an equivalent amount remaining in his war chest. That’s $400K more than what remains in the coffers of the beleaguered senator from Arizona.

As reported here previously, Paul has turned a despicable effort by the GOP establishment to freeze him out of the campaign to his advantage, thus experiencing huge success in building a grassroots internet following unparalleled by any candidate of any party. However, the question has always been, will Paul be able to convert website visits and YouTube subscribers into fundraising dollars and a credible candidacy on the ground. That answer now appears to be answered in the affirmative. (Nearly all of Paul’s war chest was raised through the Internet.)

“I think some of the candidates are on the down-slope, and we’re on the up-slope,” said Paul in an exclusive interview taped Friday and airing Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

According to ABC News, “Paul’s cash on hand puts him in third place in the Republican field in that important metric, although he is well behind leader Rudy Giuliani, who has $18 million in the bank, and Mitt Romney, with $12 million.”

As I have written elsewhere,

What all this means is that Dr. Paul has an extremely loyal following, and a far more numerous one than the Republican leadership cares to admit. It means that all the Internet polls at the various blogs and news sites that show Dr. Paul ranking in the top three in the GOP presidential field… are not as far off the mark as his opponents wish.

To give just one powerful example of the strength of his following, at a recent forum in Iowa, where the first in the nation caucuses will be held, Ron Paul attracted as many supporters as the candidacies of Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Tommy Thompson, Tom Tancredo, Sam Brownback, and Duncan Hunter combined. Dr. Paul is placing near — or at — the top of various straw polls. And more and more people are beginning to take notice.

As Dr. Paul put it, “I think people have underestimated the number of people in this country who are interested in a freedom message.”

Here’s to hoping that the momentum continues to build. To learn more about Ron Paul and to contribute to his campaign, visit www.ronpaul2008.com.

© 2004-2008 Eric F. Langborgh