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