Big bucks for the Paul campaign

Wow.

As of 9:50pm EST, the Ron Paul campaign is closing in on $5.3 million in donations courtesy of today's money bomb. I expect the campaign to clear $6 million -- possibly more -- by the time midnight rolls around.

The challenge now will be to put this money to good use. It's probably late in the game to buy much more media in Iowa or New Hampshire, although the campaign should certainly try, but the primary schedule allows for other possibilities. Paul is polling at 11% in South Carolina and is gaining traction in live-and-let-live Nevada, both of which vote on January 19. Those states would seem to be natural targets for extra effort. Good showings early on would be a big boost for the campaign on the way to Super Tuesday.

After that?

Well, $17 million or more, raised so far this quarter, buys a lot of attention. Paul's campaign now has the luxury of more resources than the good doctor ever dreamed of for transmitting his pro-freedom, anti-war message to the voters.