Banking on Becoming President

opensecrets.org ^ | 1/8/08 | opensecrets.org

[DWar]

After nine months of fundraising, the candidates for president in 2008 have already raised about $420 million. This presidential money chase seems to be on track to collect an unprecedented $1 billion total. By some predictions, the eventual nominees will need to raise $500 million apiece to compete--a record sum. To find out where all this money is coming from, explore the options to the left. Year-end reports are due to the Federal Election Commission by Jan. 31.

[DWar]

Romney has spent $17,000,000 of his own money. Richardson $2,300.

[MNJohnnie]

Wow, for a guy who has spent abut $3 million, Dr Paul doesn’t have much to show for it.

[DWar]

Yeah he does....$5.4 million cash on hand.

[Radix]

Where the $$$ comes from is of course interesting, but where does it go?

Who is making $$$ off of all these funds?

Pollsters and television stations of course, but I hold the notion that a lot of cash gets skimmed for all sorts of nefarious reasons.

I would never even consider for an instant donating money to a political campaign.

On the other hand, the Swift Boat Veterans (for example) were worth a few bucks, and that was money well spent.

FRee Republic might be worth a token now and then as well, among others.

[MNJohnnie]

So he spent $3 million to raise $5 million? That a pretty pathetic return on investment.

[eastsider]

It’s possible that Paul is saving his money for a Senate run instead, a race which he could not otherwise expect to finance so well.

[DWar]

Not if the $3 million was free money.

[MNJohnnie]

In political terms spending $3 mil to get 5 mil in the bank is lousy return on investment. The Dems can spend over a mil a week from now to election day running their candidate. Paul can run with the big dogs about 1 month then he is broke.

[DWar]

It's not about "Winning" politics for Dr Paul. He knows he'll never win.

It's about increasing his readership for his paranoid literaure by which he can make millions. Think Al Gore & AGW on a much smaller but personally profitable scale.

Collecting $3 million from others, spending some to now have $5.4 IS very smart. Watch it grow. See how much he has in the bank after the GE in November.