This is an embarrassment.
A super PAC backing Rand Paul's presidential candidacy raised just $3.1 million in the first half of 2015.
This WaPo headline says it all:
Rand Paul super PAC brings in less money than Bobby Jindal’s or Carly Fiorina’s
Yes, even behind Fiorina, whose supporters reported raising $3.4 million for a super PAC.
Rick Perry and Chris Christie Super PACs blew Rand away by raising $17 million and $11 million, receptively.
Two-thirds of the total Rand Super PAC raise came from just just two donors, George Macricostas, the chairman and CEO of a RagingWire, a data center company, and Jeff Yass, the owner of Susquehanna Partners, an investment firm.
CNN notes:
Paul has placed a particular emphasis on recruiting donors in Silicon Valley, but there is no sign that he succeeded: Only four donors with California addresses donated to his super PAC, for a total of $56,000.It should be remembered that when it was announced that Jesse Benton would head fund raising for the PAC, the money raise goals were numbers that seem far out of reach for the PAC now, unless Rand turns in a spectacular performance and bests Donald Trump on the national stage, during the first primary debate on August 6, a very difficult challenge. National Journal reported on the Benton appointment and money goals when announced in April:
Roughly two weeks ago, the Kentucky senator and his top operatives began the process of severing ties with longtime Paul strategist Jesse Benton, who will helm the independent unlimited-money group established to boost Paul's candidacy and, more than likely, tear down his presidential rivals.
Benton's role with the super PAC will be general consultant, according to a person familiar with the arrangement. He will be charged with both crafting strategy and helping to reach the goal of banking between $20 million and $30 million to support Paul.With this disclosure, it will become even more difficult for the PAC to raise money, It shows he has no following and no one will want to be listed for the next filing period as the only large donor.
-RW
In fairness, it is possible that it will use its $3 million more effectively than Perry's PAC and Christie's PAC.We shall see.
ReplyDeleteMy prediction: Rand's campaign and any presidential aspirations he may have had is toast.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe he is going to be able to define who he is/ what he stands for to enough people who do vote and I don't believe he will raise enough money from those he does reach.
I think he could score huge points right now if he would come out and say/support/fight for the complete defunding of Planned Parenthood.
ReplyDeleteThe Pro-Life right would have a champion, and what Libertarian could be against defunding anything? And I don't mean just a stump speech, but a campaign against planned parenthood.
The so-called pro-life right values unflinching support of Israel far more than it values the fight against abortion. Rand will not win them over because they will not trust him on Israel.
DeleteBut this points to the futility of what he has tried to do - he will never out-politic the professional politicians.
Anyone but a phony.
ReplyDelete