Ron Paul raised $4.5M in january

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul raised $4.5 million in January, his campaign just announced. The Texas congressman ended the month with $1.6 million in the bank. Paul's announcement comes as candidates and the super PACs aiding their campaigns file reports with the Federal Election Commisson. Overall, Paul, a prodigious Internet fundraiser, has collected $30.6 million for his presidential campaign. Paul's aides say the January fundraising totals reported today don't include an additional $1.7 million Paul raised recently through an ongoing online fundraising drive, called a "money bomb." "Naturally we're pleased that our growing support base continues to generously support Ron Paul, so in turn he can spread his message of constitutionally-limited government, sound money, and a foreign policy that keep America safe," campaign chairman Jesse Benton said in an e-mail. He said Paul is the only Republican who can mount a 50-state campaign "in terms of organization, ballot access and fundraising stamina." As we noted earlier today, Paul's presidential hopes are getting a boost from a super PAC dubbed Endorse Liberty. PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel donated $1.7 million to that group in January. Candidate and super PAC reports are due by midnight tonight. Paul's Republican rivals haven't yet reported their January fundraising totals. From: USA today