|
|
|
|
|
Paul’s Aides: Campaign Cash ‘Healthy’ Ariel Alexovich Representative Ron Paul wants you to read between the lines. Sure, the Texas congressman lags behind the top Republican presidential contenders in the total cash on hand, but his campaign insists that a harder look at the net cash candidates are allotted to use specifically for the primaries favors Mr. Paul. At a news conference in Washington today, his top advisers distributed
a chart showing that Mr. Paul’s total net amount to spend during
the primaries minus any unpaid expenditures — that’s key —brings
him closer in financial stature to Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson. Worst off is Mitt Romney, in the Paul analysis. Calculating this same “net primary cash on hand” number for the former Massachusetts governor, who has contributed millions to his own campaign, puts him more than $8 million in the red.
Mr. Paul might have an army of donors helping him close the financial gap, but he’s still disproportionately behind in the polls. Why isn’t Mr. Paul doing more with his money? Kent Snyder, the campaign chairman, urged patience. Team Paul is about to launch a series of television and radio ads, as part of their drive for New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa and Nevada, “in that order.” They hope this new effort will net their boss even more cash — and votes. Mr. Snyder referred to today’s Washington Post article about how many of George W. Bush’s Rangers and Pioneers have refrained from making big donations this year, and noted that two dozen have made contributions to Democrats. Mr. Snyder said he knows the Paulites are people like these, the “so-called disgruntled Republicans.” Jonathan Bydlak, the fund-raising director, said donations to Dr. Paul spike after each debate appearance at a rate upward of two times the average day. “I think the picture you come away with after looking at the numbers is that three campaigns are clearly distinguished as being healthy, Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Thompson and Dr. Paul,” Mr. Bydlak said. “Additionally, Mr. Romney, while his campaign is in very poor shape financially, is able to compete with the other first-tier candidates so long as he continues to be willing to contribute his own personal wealth.”
|
||||
