BY AMY Z. QUINN Supporters of Texas Congressman and longshot GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul raised $4.2 million in 24 hours in a loosely-organized fund-raising push they’re calling a “money bomb.”
Speculate, theorize, stereotype. Only one thing is clear: the Paulites, the loyal, organized, Web-savvy supporters of Rep. Ron
Paul, know how to raise money online, and 37,000 Paulites set a record [Monday] by hauling in more than $4.2 million in 24 hours. That’s the most money raised online by a candidate in a single day. A Paulite came up with the fundraising idea, a few more Paulites joined in and set the date for Nov. 5, Guy Fawkes Day, a symbol of rebellion in British history, then the “money bomb” effort spread virally.
Context is crucial here. Sen. John McCain, who placed second in the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, raised $6 million last quarter. But that took three months. [via WaPo On The Trail]
Paul, who was against the Iraq War before anybody even thought of having one, advocates immediate withdrawal of American troops and is popular among returning Iraq vets. In the second quarter of this year, he raised more money from military contributors than all the other Republican candidates combined.
The Paulites — which kind of make them sound like an order of cloistered nuns, but whatevs — next plan a money bomb on Dec. 16., anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, and this time, they’re shooting for $10 mil.
It isn’t just Mitt Romney who should be concerned by this — Democrats should be mindful of the fact that ending the war now is the key issue that has spurred Paul’s “Revolution.” His impeccable anti-war stance threatens to give lukewarm Republicans a reason to stick with the party a little longer, and if he runs on a third-party ticket, he could be a spoiler for everyone involved.
The war in Iraq was sold to us with false information. The area is more dangerous now than when we entered it. We destroyed a regime hated by our direct enemies, the jihadists, and created thousands of new recruits for them. [via RonPaul2008.com]
CNN.COM: Ron Paul Talks To Wolf Blitzer About The Money Bomb