Rand Paul detonates ‘money bomb’ in U.S. Senate race
By Jack Brammer – jbrammer@herald-leader.com
Rand Paul
FRANKFORT — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul detonated a so-called “money bomb” Thursday in hopes of raising $1 million by midnight, an accomplishment that would validate his status as a mainstream candidate.
However, the explosion was less than expected. As of 6 p.m., the campaign’s web site reported gathering $346,322 on Thursday.
Paul, a Bowling Green eye surgeon and son of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, remained optimistic nonetheless.
In a telephone interview late Thursday morning, the first-time candidate for public office said he would be pleased to take in $200,000 to $300,000.
“That certainly would show I am quite formidable,” Paul said. “If we reach or get close to $1 million, it so overwhelmingly transforms this race right now.”
Political observers say Paul’s fund-raising gimmick is impressive, but they’re still not sure what its effect will be on the 2010 U.S. Senate race.
“I think the quantity of the money he can raise makes him a player to watch in this race,” said University of Kentucky political science professor Donald Gross. “He now will have enough money to get his name out there.”
That said, skeptics point out that it will be hard to transform donations from out-of-state backers of his father into votes in a Kentucky primary.
Rand Paul “has proven that he knows how to use the Internet and can raise money,” said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of The Cook Political Report. “I just want to know if his support primarily is Ron Paul voters across the nation who can’t vote in Kentucky.”
In the GOP primary, Rand Paul faces Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who led Paul by 11 points in a recent SurveyUSA poll commissioner by Louisville’s WHAS-TV, and Todd County businessman Bill Johnson.
Rand Paul modeled the fund-raising gimmick on efforts used by his father in the 2008 presidential race to harness small donations from like-minded conservatives across the nation.
He said he expected the average contribution to be $60 and chose Aug. 20 for the date in honor of his father’s 74th birthday.
Rand Paul dismissed criticism that much of his campaign funds are coming from outside of Kentucky.
“That really doesn’t matter,” Paul said. “Some people want to complain about that. I’m not the first Kentucky candidate to get money from outside the state.
He said his contributors are average citizens who simply want change in Washington, not a federal job or contract.
“They are worried about an out-of-control Congress and a president who have added over $2 trillion to the national debt,” he said.
Paul noted that he has fund-raisers scheduled in Texas the next three days and one in Nicholasville on Aug. 29.
Congressman Paul, in a telephone interview, said his son’s fund-raising effort, is “a very good start for a race still in its early stage.”
The elder Paul said “money bombs” aren’t always successful.
“It really has nothing to do with techniques; it has to do with what you are offering,” he said. “My son is offering the people of Kentucky an independent, conservative voice. That message is resonating.”
The younger Paul said he expects he will need $2 million to run his race for the May 2010 GOP primary election.
Rand Paul supporters were claiming on Thursday that the “money bomb” had set a new state record for the most money raised by a candidate in a single day, but the claim is false.
On March 2, 2007, Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell garnered more than $2 million from donors for his 2008 re-election fund and the National Republican Senatorial Committee at a Louisville gala featuring then-President Bush.
However, Rand Paul did surpass the more than $350,000 that Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign raised on March 21, 2007, during a Lexington fund-raiser attended by former President Bill Clinton.
Rand Paul’s “money bomb” was organized by music promoter Trevor Lyman, who has put together online fund-raising efforts for the elder Paul.
Grayson’s campaign did not return several phone calls seeking comment.
Johnson, making his first bid for public office, said he applauds Paul “for using his father’s political network around the country.”
Johnson said he will not spend more than $500,000 in the GOP primary and will raise $200,000 this year.
“If I can’t win on that amount, then either the message or messenger is wrong,” he said.
Filed Under: Elections • Rand Paul • Republican Party • Trey Grayson • US Senate Race
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
Would you please not give this imbecile more ink than he deserves?
Since Mr. Randal Paul managed his dads campaign in the New England primaries, is a
died in the wool Libertarian, announced in New York City and will be attending a fundraiser in Texas…I am just wondering which state is he seeking the senate seat…and
it is really a stretch to call himself an “outsider”
The people of Kentucky needs and deserves an
honest conservative Republican…and Mr. Paul certainly is not that candidate. Either Bill Johnson or Trey Grayson would be a vast improvement, although Trey was president of the Harvard Young Democrats and campaigned for Bill Clinton.
I want to see what proportion of his donors live outside the state of Kentucky. I’d be willing to bet that a large majority have no ties whatsoever to Kentucky.
He’s an ideological figurehead, mooching off of his father’s “popularity”, and being propped up by special interests and radicals.
Actually the above article is WRONG.
Rand Paul did set a single day fundraising record ONLINE.
It was the largest online fundraiser in the history of Kentucky.
By the way, I am a resident of Kentucky and I donated to the campaign.
I know many other Kentuckians that donated as well.
I want numbers the campaign coffers, not anecdotes from supporters.
“…Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of The Cook Political Report. “I just want to know if his support primarily is Ron Paul voters across the nation who can’t vote in Kentucky.”
I guess you just have to breathe to get a gig as a reporter these days. Obviously, this was written before the first poll showing Paul within 11% points of a 8 year career KY politican when Paul has been running for 8 weeks?
“The people of Kentucky needs and deserves an
honest conservative Republican…and Mr. Paul certainly is not that candidate. Either Bill Johnson or Trey Grayson would be a vast improvement, although Trey was president of the Harvard Young Democrats AND CAMPAIGNED FOR BILL CLINTON.
Nevermind …
though short of the goal, it’s hard NOT to see this as a big success. Rand Paul’s contributions were more than doubled today. i’m a proud Kentuckian and i’d be proud to have Rand Paul represent me. the 1st poll did not poll out of staters and it put Rand Paul not far behindd Grayson.
I supported Ron Paul in 2008 and support Rand in his run in 2010. This support is based on Rand’s message, his values for reason and logic and his open and honest approach. I believe he can best represent the people and the constitution and believe a victory for Rand will be a victory for Kentucky, for America and for freedom.
p.s. check out Rand Paul’s solutions for health care on youtube. sure makes a lot more sense than 1200 pages of nonsense (ie. HR 3200). And FYI, Rand Paul is a physician.
Even if some of the money is from out of state, I would rather have $25 here and there from a normal everyday citizen than go “bob on the knob” of some old rich “country clubber” for fundraising like Mitch McConnell, Trey Grayson, Jack Conway, and Dan Mongiardo like to do. The money that Rand Paul got yesterday came from normal, hardworking, everyday citizens that probably only contributed $25 – $100 a piece. Not some rich coal tycoon that others hit up.
We dont need a republican we need a honest person regardless of party who represents honesty, is not sold out to big$$(like mitch mcconnell), represents the common working person and has common sense and doesnt play politics!
It’s dyed, not died, dude. You don’t die wool.
Grayson will have more out of state money from the K Street lobyist before this primary ends.
Trey stands for nothing, he means nothing, he represents nothing but one talentless and discredited group of individuals. Soon he won’t even represent them either.
In Miranda’s fantasy world, someone who understands economics and actually has a complete platform is an “imbecile.” Pray tell, which of the empty suits (Grayson, Mongiardo, Conway) does she believe has the mental gravitas to help our country?
@ME, I agree completely, Grayson is an empty suit.
Nobody cares to see where Bill Clinton’s old friend, Trey Grayson, is getting his money.. Last I heard it was the Neo-Con big wigs like Sarah Palin and the GOP establishment.
It says something that normal Americans from around the country are donating to Rand Paul’s campaign. Take the hint Kentucky!
“Even if some of the money is from out of state, I would rather have $25 here and there from a normal everyday citizen than go “bob on the knob” of some old rich “country clubber” for fundraising”
Like the uber-wealthy folks that fund CATO? Or the deregulation lobbyists that will throw money at anyone who advocates for expanding their power? Or the wealthy white men that make up the bulk of the libertarian party proper?
Even if his sources are mostly individuals he’s still an apologist for corporate greed and screw-the-poor social policy.
STOP RAND PAUL!
And then Rand Palin appeared on that Lunatic Glen Beck’s Program and detonated the Lunacy Bomb. What a fool.
I donated to Rand on the 20th and will again the next money bomb(of course there will be another). I live in Lexington, me, my family and friends will be voting PAUL in May.
If you havent already, do everyone a favor, goto randpaul2010.com or youtube and listen to a Rand Paul Speech or two. Enough said..
Clothes, shoes, wholesale and retail team under a single large concessions standard welcome!