Ron Paul raises $4.2 million in 24 hours

Congressman Ron Paul (R - TX) raised $4.2 million dollars in last 24 hours for his Presidential campaign. This represents the single largest fundraising day by any Republican this cycle.

From AP:

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, aided by an extraordinary outpouring of Internet support Monday, hauled in more than $4.2 million in nearly 24 hours.

Paul, the Texas congressman with a libertarian tilt and an out-of-Iraq pitch, entered heady fundraising territory with a surge of Web-based giving tied to the commemoration of Guy Fawkes Day.

Fawkes was a British mercenary who failed in his attempt to kill King James I on Nov. 5, 1605. He also was the model for the protagonist in the movie "V for Vendetta." Paul backers motivated donors on the Internet with mashed-up clips of the film on the online video site YouTube as well as the Guy Fawkes Day refrain: "Remember, remember the 5th of November."

Paul's total deposed Mitt Romney as the single-day fundraising record holder in the Republican presidential field. When it comes to sums amassed in one day, Paul now ranks only behind Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton, who raised nearly $6.2 million on June 30, and Barack Obama.

Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said the effort began independently about two months ago at the hands of Paul's backers. He said Paul picked up on the movement, mentioning in it speeches and interviews.

"It's been kind of building up virally," Benton said.

The $4.2 million represented online contributions from more than 37,000 donors, fundraising director Jonathan Bydlak said Monday night.

Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul

Ron Paul is up... on TV

Today, Congressman Ron Paul went up on the airwaves with his first set of 30 second TV ads in Iowa.

The ads are running in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines markets.

Keep Ron Paul in tonights debate

From ConservativesBetrayed.com:

On June 5, the third Republican presidential debate will be held in New Hampshire and will be televised by CNN.

In these final days and hours before the debate, the Big Government Republicans are expected to put intense pressure on the three sponsors to drop Ron Paul from the panel of debaters.

Don’t let this happen! Sign the petition to keep Ron in the debate, and send the petition to your friends!

This petition is not an endorsement of Ron Paul for the presidency.

It says: “Whether we agree with Ron Paul’s viewpoints or not, we believe that Republicans—and all other Americans—deserve a real debate with more than one viewpoint. Keep Ron in!”

Ron Paul has become the lightning rod in the presidential debates by expressing his conservative opinions. Let’s not let the Big Government Republicans silence him!

Go to www.KeepRonIn.com NOW to keep Ron Paul in the June 5 New Hampshire debate!

Be sure to visit KeepRonIn.com!

Reasons to vote for Ron Paul

From today's National Journal Hotline:

Ron Paul "blazed through" Scottsdale, AZ, for "one of his first stops" on the WH campaign trail. After attending a "higher cost" fundraiser on 3/30, Paul met supporters on 3/31 at an $8/person breakfast at Hometown Buffet. Paul discussed his "opposition to the war in Iraq," his backing of "gun rights" and how "big" gov't "should be eliminated" (Muench, Arizona Republic, 4/1).

Going Dr. "No"-To-Toe With Maher

Paul appeared on "Real Time" 3/30.

On being a libertarian: "I believe in limited government. I believe in individual liberty. There were some Republicans at one time that actually believed that."

Asked if the U.S. should eliminate the CIA: "I think we could do without the CIA murdering leaders in other countries. I think there's room for intelligence gathering, but I don't like the secret activity of the CIA where they go about getting rid of people ... and installing governments."

On global warming: "I think it's been around for a long time and it's probably going to be with us a while longer. ... Our foreign policy contributes to global warming by subsidizing a policy that is deeply flawed. That's why we're in the Middle East ... to protect oil interests."

Bill Maher: "Haven't we learned from Walter Reed and so many other scandals that actually private enterprise does worse? Corporations are actually worse than the government because they have absolutely no conscience?"

Paul: "What makes you think the Veterans Association is private? This is a demonstration of what government-run medicine would be like. ... We need to allow every veteran to have decent health care, but we should permit them and pay for it to allow them to go to the doctor they want" (HBO, 3/30).