Politics

Ron Paul rakes in $1.8 million in weekend money bomb

C.J. Ciaramella Contributor
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GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul’s fans gave him a big present for his 76th birthday this weekend.

Supporters showered the Texas representative with $1.8 million in small individual donations during a 24-hour birthday money-bomb in yet another example of the candidate’s relatively small but rabid fan-base.

“Our campaign is truly surging, and this is just more evidence of the strength of our grassroots support,” said Paul’s campaign chairman Jesse Benton in a press release. “We’ve just come off of an impressive finish in the Iowa straw poll, and our rising poll numbers and strong fundraising proves our message is resonating with people.”

Paul’s dedicated base has made him a powerhouse fundraiser. He was the second-best fundraiser among GOP candidates in the second quarter with $4 million cash on hand and more than $4.5 million in net contributions.

However, Paul was far behind frontrunner Mitt Romney, who raked in $18.2 million in the second quarter. And Paul must now also deal with other candidates who have jumped into the crowded field, like Michele Bachmann and Texas governor Rick Perry.

The weekend money-bomb marked the fourth time Paul has passed the million-dollar mark in one-day fundraising.