Posted: December 7, 2007 12:33 PM
Paul Reacts to Romney Speech, Continues to Raise Money
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With the media buzzing about former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s speech about his Mormon faith, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, weighed in with his own statement.
“Our nation was founded to be a place where religion is freely practiced and differences are tolerated and respected. I come to my faith through Jesus Christ and have accepted him as my personal savior. At the same time, I have worked tirelessly to defend and restore individual rights and religious freedom for all Americans,” Paul said in a press release.
Paul, who has not made his own religious conviction a topic of his campaign, said that Romney’s brand of faith should not be an issue, either. “The recent attacks and insinuations, both direct and subtle, that Gov. Romney may be less fit to serve as president of our United States because of his faith fly in the face of everything America stands for. Gov. Romney should be judged fairly, on his record and his character, not on the church he attends,” the Paul statement said.
For his own campaign, Paul continues to raise money, pulling in more than $10 million this quarter. His record-setting $4.3 million haul in November is the measuring post for his supporters’ latest grassroots money bomb day, which is set for December 16, the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. The campaign’s fundraising goal for the end of the year is $12 million.
Media reports indicate that much of Paul’s fundraising and door-knocking efforts are truly of a grassroots nature, with his campaign exercising little control over the strategy or message.
The Washington Post reports that Paul supporters in New Hampshire are organizing door-to-door operations, literature drops and phone calls.
The campaign has already purchased $1.1 million in TV time in the state for the rest of the campaign, plus $435,000 in radio time, a campaign spokesperson told the Post.
With the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary approaching quickly, Paul still needs to overcome a significant gap in support. According to an average of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics.com, Paul is in sixth place in Iowa with 5 percent and fifth place in New Hampshire with 6.1 percent.
-- By , NewsHour with Jim Lehrer | Comments | Link
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I listened Dec 9 Sunday to McLaughlin and was struck by the hatred and bigotry of one of his presenters. I had to turn the Tv station. In this country to have violently against a religion that has done so much for so many regardless of their color, faith or ethnicity. The congregations that we have in Africa with many black members says a lot for racism in Mormonism, as well as the many blacks in the US. Blacks came across the plains with the rest. It is a sad commentary when someone of supposedly religious stature spews such hatred out of his mouth, with a look to match. He should appologize to all christians not just Mormons for such a non christian attitude. McLaughlin did little to quiet him, but let him spew these insulting words.