Rand Paul To Hit $2 Million Milestone Within Hours

When Rand Paul began his race for the United States Senate he was prepared to receive only 10% of the vote, now he has a lead of 15 points over what was at one time the "presumptive" nominee.  So Paul set a fund raising goal for his primary campaign of $2 million.  With two months left to go he will reach that tonight.

If you wonder why the majority of the press concerning this race is about Rand Paul it is simply because he has exceeded every expectation, including his own, as he marches toward what is now clearly his likely win barring an event of catastrophic proportions.

With $2 million raised by mid March, Paul has accomplished a goal which is poised to pay big dividends.  In politics everybody wants to be with the winner, money begets money and the big money eventually gets bet on the front runner.  What Paul is likely to experience in the next two months is an influx of big donors and the very real likelihood that his campaign will get through the May primary with the kind of war chest which will make even wealthy Jack Conway think twice about writing his own check.

What this also means is that Grayson will now find it harder than before to raise money unless he is able to convince donors that he can close a 15 point gap against a well financed front runner.

What is probably happening in the Grayson camp right now is a bit of soul searching.  In all likelihood at first Grayson believed that all of his yeoman like partisan activities he had performed since switching from the democratic to the republican party were investments he could count on when he needed them.  But as many candidates will attest, when the chips are down, presumed political loyalties suddenly become very unreliable.

The next thing that is probably happening in the Grayson camp is even more of a concern to him I'm sure.  No doubt Grayson was counting on Mitch McConnell to help pull him through.  I'd say McConnell is giving Grayson the old soft shoe right about now.  When they call Mitch I'll bet they are being told that he is too busy with the Health Care bill and the Jobs bill and the Extension Act and the reconciliation process etc., etc., etc., to help Trey right now.  That's how he does it.  McConnell is the master at leaving candidates high and dry as soon as it looks like they might not win.  That would explain why Grayson through his staff seem to be doing some very amateurish things right now and have resorted to hit pieces in mailers and on the airwaves when they should be doing soft and fuzzy bio pieces for another four weeks.

In fact, Paul's lead among likely voters and in the money race means that Grayson is probably thinking more about the 2011 statewide elections this week than at any time since the weeks before he formed his exploratory committee while Jim Bunning was still in the race. 

Paul on the other hand is probably thinking about raising his next $2 million beginning in a big way with his money bomb on March 23rd.

When Paul hits that milestone tonight or tomorrow morning that noise you hear will be a fat lady warming up in the wings.

Comments

[Benjamin Jefferson]

Rand Paul is a man of character. He will use the money wisely. That's good to know.

[Cesar]

Thanks for the article. I am not a resident of KY but have family who live there. I try to donate when I can because Rand is good KY and the country.

[RS]

Marc... your a beast. Be blessed my friend!

[chicken soot]

Oh where has you gone Mitch, our Weasel friend when our Rockafeller Republicans need you?

[Noah]

A little ironic how 1 year after Grayson and Mcconnell stabbed Bunning in the back, Mcconnell may be stabbing Grayson in the back.

[Andrew]

Another great article, Marc. I've enjoyed your analysis. Do you think Grayson will bow out to give himself a chance in 2011?