Ron Paul sets fund-raising record!

Wow! Ron Paul continues to impress on-line and with respect to fund-raising. Can he turn it into popular support at the polls, especially in the early primary states?

From Bennett Roth with the Houston Chronicle, a report on Monday's record fund-raising effort of $4.2 million in one day-- to go along with the $5 million raised for his campaign in the last quarter. (By contrast, for example, Mike Huckabee failed to raise $1 million last quarter.)

WASHINGTON — Maverick GOP presidential contender Ron Paul of Lake Jackson continued his fund-raising juggernaut, raking in $4.3 million in one day over the Internet.

The 24 hour fund-raising drive on Monday brings Paul's contributions to $7.3 million so far for the final quarter of this year, eclipsing the $5.4 million he raised in the third quarter.

Paul received 38,000 donations during the drive, which was spearheaded by the candidate's supporters in honor of Guy Fawkes Day, which commemorates Fawkes, a British mercenary who unsuccessfully sought to kill King James I on Nov. 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes was also the inspiration for the novel and movie "V for Vendetta," in which the lead character takes on a fascist government in Great Britain.

The libertarian leaning Paul is a strong opponent of many government programs and is the only Republican candidate for the White House advocating troop withdrawal from Iraq....

Paul now holds the record among Republican White House candidates for fund-raising on a single day, according to the Associated Press. Democratic presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton has raised the most, $6.2 million, on a single day during the current campaign.

While he has built a fervent fan base over the Internet, Paul still remains mired in the low single digits in most national polls.

Paul's spokesman Jesse Benton said the influx of funds will allow the candidate to increase his name recognition. The candidate is already airing television and radio commercials in New Hampshire and radio spots in Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada.

Benton said the campaign has already increased its staff to 70 people. Paul is scheduled to be in New Hampshire on Wednesday and speak at Independence Mall in Philadelphia on Saturday.