A blizzard which dropped eight inches of snow on Boston Sunday didn’t stop over 700 people from packing into Faneuil Hall to hear speeches about Dr. Ron Paul. And nothing could stop 61,000 supporters of Paul’s presidential campaign from dropping a record-breaking $6.3 million into his campaign coffers.
About 25,000 of those were first-time donors, according to real-time data published on the campaign’s Web site.
Ron Paul, a ten-term Congressman from Texas running for the GOP nomination, has gone from virtual unknown six months ago to a household name, especially on the Internet, where people who read articles or watch videos about him say he’s the first candidate to inspire them to get involved in politics.
Until a few months ago, Trevor Lyman, 37, originally from Merrimack, N.H., was one of those people. Lyman says he has never voted before, but after hearing about Ron Paul, decided to get involved. Lyman is responsible for organizing Sunday’s Tea Party 07 money bomb as well as the previous single day fundraising effort on November 5, in which 37,000 supporters contributed $4.2 million to Ron Paul’s campaign.
“Looking at his voting record, I found out how consistent he was,” Lyman said. “To find someone who stands by what he says and does what he says he’s going to do, for me that was a clinching argument. As I learned more about him, it became a solid feeling that this is the right man to be president.”
On November 20 I interviewed Trevor Lyman about his grassroots fundraising campaigns. Watch the video:
“This basically shows that Ron Paul is a viable candidate,” said Rachael McIntosh, a spokeswoman for what was dubbed Boston TeaParty07. “People are so engaged in this campaign because it’s coming from the grass roots.”
His supporters are unusually enthusiastic. Yesterday, one waved a yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flag on Beacon Street in front of the State House while a dozen others clutched Ron Paul placards in the sleet.
McIntosh said 400 supporters later marched to Faneuil Hall, where about 700 people listened to speeches by Rand Paul, the candidate’s son; Carla Howell, a libertarian who ran unsuccessfully for Massachusetts governor in 2002; and others.
Supporters also reenacted the dumping of tea in Boston Harbor by tossing banners that read “tyranny” and “no taxation without representation” into boxes that were placed in front of an image of the harbor. — Boston Globe
Unlike the other candidates, Republican or Democrat, Paul’s fundraising continues to increase each quarter. In the first quarter of 2007, Paul brought in $640,000. In the second quarter, $2.4 million, $5.1 million in the third quarter, and with two weeks left in the fourth quarter, Paul’s campaign has already brought in over $18 million, over half of which was raised by single individuals contributing on the two fundraising dates.
Even mainstream Republicans, tired of being overtaxed to pay for an apparently endless war and ever-growing entitlements, and faced with a stagnating party which has drifted far away from traditional conservative principles, are realizing that change is needed. And those conservative principles are exactly what Ron Paul is playing to.
Some complain that Ron Paul is too low in the polls. There are several reasons for that, the main one being that the scientific polls are no longer as accurate as they used to be, and the second one being that the pollsters often fail to count people who wish to express support for Ron Paul. In the end, though, there’s only one poll that matters: the election.
Ron Paul’s supporters have proved that they’re willing to go out into blizzards for their candidate if that’s what it takes. You can be sure they’ll show up at the polls on primary election day. And that is sure to make campaign managers for the likes of Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, none of whom can muster up nearly that level of support, very nervous.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Karl Marx would love the popular moves among politicians in various state governments and the federal government to ban so-called "junk" food in schools, and to "put healthy food in" convenience stores and on the tables of those they define as poor. It's a very elitist and arrogant mindset that promotes this ideology, and it needs to be addressed.
Ultimately, the war supporters in Congress prevailed in the vote on the resolution. Still, the vote was significant because it places every member of Congress on the record as supporting or not supporting the unconstitutional, costly, violent occupation of a country that never attacked us. This vote should serve as an important reminder to the American people of where their representatives really stand when it comes to policing the world, empire building, and war.
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Ken in Missouri
Dec 17, 2007
The reason Ron Paul’s message resonates with people is because he knows how to use concise, simple terms to explain complex issues in ways that are clearly understood by most Americans. It also doesn’t hurt that what he says has the ring of truth. “It’s the Constitution, Stupid!”
TheOneLaw
Dec 17, 2007
The level of support a candidate receives is directly proportional to the level of credibility the candidate exhibits.
A very telling point is that three people in a closet in an Iowa newspaper office endorsed (with hot air) McCain and Clinton while outside that closet as yet uncounted tens of thousands were endorsing (with cold cash) Ron Paul.
Go figure – it is Constitutional redibility at work here.
Mick Russom
Dec 17, 2007
The reason Ron Paul is so popular, is that he is popular with a Majority of people.
The other reason he is so popular with the Majority, is he is ‘unpopular’ with the minority that is polled.
He is also a threat to the military industrial complex and its propaganda wing, the main stream media, and the people are standing up to say, we are ready for Ron Paul, the constitution and real change.
KBCraig
Dec 17, 2007
… bad website, bad! Unsolicited audio kills a baby kitten every time it plays.
Anonymous
Dec 17, 2007
Who is this masked man? Will he actually end the war in Iraq, lower our taxes and get rid of the illegal immigrants, who are draining our economy and endangering our security? If he could really accomplish these things, he’d be the greatest president since FDR.
Politically Incorrec
Dec 17, 2007
Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought we would have a chance to elect an honest person as our president. Somebody who we could count on to do what is right for America. We have that chance now and we must take back our government from the corrupt lobbys and globalist corporations.
Illegal immigration, out of control spending, our foreign policy and taxes are destroying our country.
If we don’t change it now, we may never have the chance ever again. Ron Paul must win!
David
Dec 17, 2007
Thanks for the story!! I think Ron Paul is stronger than most people see or understand. You did a good job explaining low poll numbers and his support.
tea-tosser
Dec 17, 2007
Anonymous, bite your tongue [er, typing finger]! Ron Paul would never expand the government, raise taxes, or put us ever closer to Socialism the way FDR did. He’s too smart for that. :)
tea-tosser
Dec 17, 2007
If Ron Paul doesnt win I’m sure something fishy is going on. The media is already being weaselly but I think they might rig the elections. I know they are very afraid of this man and what great changes he is going to bring!
Ensley
Dec 17, 2007
I find it amazing that CNN thinks a senator endorsing a second tier presidental candidate is headline news, but the all-time United States record for a single day’s fundraising is something they should just ignore. Wow!! Obviously, CNN no longer has the credentials to be called a “news” organization.
Jeff
Dec 17, 2007
I too was shocked to find that CNN is not covering the most successful on-line fund raising event in political history. Looks like the Ron Paul media black-out continues. Too bad these nasty main stream media folks insist on packaging news to fit their agenda. Did Hillary send another staffer to approve today headlines?
Mark
Dec 17, 2007
Dr. Paul is the first candidate in my lifetime that recognizes that one of the greatest threats to personal liberty is excessive authority given to one’s own government. The founding fathers new it. However, somewhere along the line Americans decided that the idea of restraining the state is old fashioned. It’s time that we correct this error. We’ve gone way to far down a very dangerous road.
Dan M
Dec 17, 2007
Ron Paul does not just belong to the Republicans. His appeal is much broader than that. I voted against Bush this last election, usually favor the democrats, but Ron Paul is by far and away my first choice. He will win the general election, if he wins the primary, because there are many more like me out there. If Ron Paul is not an option, I’ll vote for the democrat’s nomination.
Ron Paul for freedom, peace, and prosperity
TENNESSEE
Dec 17, 2007
I can see Paul is the man for the job. The general public can see it. The media and fat cat politicians can see the hand writing on the wall. Go Ron go.
Ron Paul
Dec 17, 2007
Cheers to Ron Paul!!! He has the guts, intelligence, charm and experience to clean up this country. A vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Integrity in the whitehouse and America!!! He will bring us the hope we need for a better future not just for himself but, for others. He can do it!!! Help get the word out!!!! He is the MAN for the job!!!
Jim Texas
Dec 18, 2007
Ron Paul is the only candidate that seems to be outside the Washington click. All the rest, seem to be just “whistle stops and promises”. Dr. Paul campaigns with a smile and a chainsaw. He just cuts right to the meat of the matter. That is why people support him. It is time to Buy American! Be American! And Restore America. This might be the last chance to save the America as we know it.
Q
Dec 18, 2007
this is very encouraging. all the censoring of Ron Paul, from Fox, and ABC… and he’s still getting through… imagine how many more people his message could reach if they would stop trying to erase him from the polls and the conventions.
Earl Moore
Dec 21, 2007
I just have become aware of Ron Paul. Hopefully he will be a viable candidate for president. But electing a president alone will not change this country for the better. You need a congress that is in office to service the people who elected them. The congress we have now is only interested in enriching themselves. The citizens of this country should be calling for term limits for the crooks. Then we would possibly get individuals who were looking out for their constituents instead of their own self interest and their ever ongoing quest to be re-elected. That is where they spend most of their time.
DDude
Dec 23, 2007
I’ve recently begun to take a look at Mr. Paul and actually made the decision to contribute some of what I sweat for weekly, something I haven’t done since Reagan. I only hope that Mr. Paul, should he attain office, is that he look at his copy of the Constitution and make his decisions based on what it permits and not what he thinks is appropriate. I’m a big supporter of the 10th Amendment which has been regulated to obscurity by most of American and definitely our government. I trust in God and the Constitution. I’m only hoping Mr. Paul does as well.
Anonymous
Jan 03, 2008
A man of ehtics and honor in congress ? A rare gem ,indeed. Ron Paul…………………has my respect and my vote !