Ron Paul 2008 presidential campaign
In early 2007, Ron Paul, a congressman from Texas, announced his candidacy for the Republican Party's nomination for president of the United States in the 2008 election. Initial opinion polls during the first three quarters of 2007 showed him consistently receiving support from 3% or less of those polled. In 2008, Paul's support among Republican voters remained in the single digits, and well behind front-runner John McCain.[1]
For his 2012 campaign, see Ron Paul 2012 presidential campaign.Ron Paul for President 2008
Ron Paul
U.S. Representative from Texas
(1976–1977)
(1979–1985)
(1997–2013)
Announced March 12, 2007
Suspended June 12, 2008
Kent Snyder (chairman, deceased)
Lew Moore (manager)
Jesse Benton (press secretary)
US$28,100,000 (2007-12-31)
Hope for America
During the fourth quarter of 2007, Paul was the most successful Republican fundraiser, bringing in approximately $20 million.[2][3] He also received the most money from the armed services of any candidate in the fourth quarter.[4] His campaign set two fund-raising records: the largest single-day donation total among Republican candidates and twice receiving the most money received through the internet in a single day by any presidential candidate in American history.[5] Paul's run for president is also noted for its grassroots social networking, facilitated by the Internet.[6] Paul's enthusiastic supporters were noted by the media, who called them "Paulites".[7][8] Paul received most of his contributions from individuals, at ninety-seven percent, compared to other candidates.[9]
As of February 5, 2008, Paul had won sixteen delegates to his party's National Convention, placing him last among the four Republican candidates still in the race at that time.[10] The campaign projected on February 6 to have secured at least 42 delegates to the national convention.[11] On March 4, 2008, McCain earned enough pledged delegates to become the Republican presumptive nominee, but Paul decided to continue his run.[12] Paul released The Revolution: A Manifesto on April 29, which collected essays based on thoughts that arose from his experiences running for president in 2008. The book went on to be the top bestseller among political books on Amazon.com[13] and The New York Times nonfiction list.[14]
On June 12, 2008, Paul announced that he was ending the presidential campaign, investing the more than $4.7 million of remaining campaign contributions to build up the new advocacy group Campaign for Liberty.[15] Although he suspended his campaign, he appeared on the ballot in Montana[16] and Louisiana[17] in the general election. He was also listed in some states as a write-in candidate. He received over 47,000 votes, giving him the eighth-highest popular vote total in the election.[18]
Polling[edit]
In polling conducted at the Utah GOP convention on June 9, 2007, Paul placed second behind Mitt Romney.[91] Paul also placed second in the straw poll conducted at the National Taxpayers Union conference, following Fred Thompson.[92] Paul placed second, polling 17 percent, in a Cobb County GOP straw poll on July 4, 2007.[93]
He placed third in the Illinois Straw Poll on August 16, 2007, with 18.87 percent of the vote, polling just 0.4 percent behind undeclared candidate Fred Thompson. Paul won the similar West Alabama Republican Assembly 2007 Presidential Preference Straw Poll on August 18, 2007, capturing 216 of 266 votes (81 percent), ahead of second-place Mitt Romney.[94] On August 18. Paul won the South Sound Ronald Reagan Republican Club's straw poll on August 21 in Snohomish County, Washington, with 30 percent of the vote, with Fred Thompson coming in second with 27 percent.[95]
On November 20, 2007, Paul finished fourth behind fellow Republicans Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson in a Zogby International "blind bio" poll of likely Republican voters. However, Paul was first when Democrats and Independents were included in the survey. The poll presented potential voters with descriptions of each candidate's resume rather than candidate names.[96]
National polls conducted in January 2008 showed Paul with an average of just under 5% among Republican candidates.[97]