Politico: Paul ramps up campaign spending

[sailingaway]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/66040.html

Ron Paul’s 2012 campaign has ramped up faster than his 2008 bid, hiring staff in key states and making paid media buys earlier than last time.

That’s costing a lot of money.

Paul’s heavy campaign burn-rate emerged in his third-quarter campaign finance report filed Saturday, which showed him raising about $8.2 million for the period but also spending $7.5 million. He finished the quarter with $3.6 million in the bank. The largest costs came in the form of more than $2 million spent on TV and direct-mail advertising, for airtime and mail pieces that are running well past the quarter’s closing date last month.

The campaign is also spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on field and strategy consulting in early-voting states, targeted Internet advertising, campaign merchandise, and a charter plane that the Texas congressman uses for most of his campaign travel.

The burn-rate stands in stark contrast to the same period during his 2008 campaign, when he raised $5.2 million and spent only $2.1 million. And Paul’s campaign says that’s exactly the point. Last time, Paul strategists believe, the campaign waited too long to staff up and capitalize on the surge of interest and online donations that fueled his run. The campaign is making no bones about its heavy spending.

more at link

this is all good stuff, we have to promote that BTO moneybomb! I left a comment on the other Politico article, now for this one....

 

[bluesc]

Good stuff. No repeating mistakes. The more they spend, the happier I am.

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

Tweeted. Good article. Glad to see we are spending faster. Gotta spend money to make money.

 

[harikaried]

Top 20 expense categories by total dollars spent:

TELEVISION EXPENSE                (x7) $1,663,847.00
Credit Card Payment               (x7) $1,146,411.30
TRAVEL-AIRFARE                  (x330)   $852,302.22
POSTAGE/PROCESSING-BULK MAIL     (x14)   $491,720.36
POSTAGE/SHIPPING EXPENSE        (x126)   $470,377.75
ADVERTISEMENT                    (x23)   $452,398.55
CAMPAIGN MERCHANDISE             (x67)   $410,766.11
SALARY                          (x213)   $384,544.17
CONSULTING-POLITICAL FIELD WORK (x188)   $369,083.63
CONSULTING-POLITICAL STRATEGY    (x71)   $331,630.32
EMAIL SERVICES                   (x11)   $204,496.66
CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEE        (x7)   $194,172.13
Reimbursement Expenses          (x155)   $159,817.75
PARTY FEES/DUES                  (x24)   $155,313.89
HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS             (x260)   $154,167.79
PAYROLL TAX EXPENSE              (x18)   $122,721.56
TELEPHONE/TELECOMMUNCATIONS     (x123)   $122,081.01
MEDIA EXPENSE                     (x9)   $115,272.36
TELEMARKETING EXPENSE            (x13)   $111,231.07
WEBSITE DESIGN/MAINTENANCE        (x4)    $97,722.73

Top 20 expense categories by number of instances:

MEAL EXPENSE                    (x859)  $48,729.19
TRAVEL-GAS                      (x431)  $16,623.76
TRAVEL-AIRFARE                  (x330) $852,302.22
HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS             (x260) $154,167.79
SALARY                          (x213) $384,544.17
OFFICE SUPPLIES                 (x200)  $16,631.04
CONSULTING-POLITICAL FIELD WORK (x188) $369,083.63
Reimbursement Expenses          (x155) $159,817.75
POSTAGE/SHIPPING EXPENSE        (x126) $470,377.75
TELEPHONE/TELECOMMUNCATIONS     (x123) $122,081.01
TRAVEL-RENT CAR                  (x93)  $57,172.25
CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES      (x92)  $40,232.68
EVENT SUPPLIES                   (x90)  $25,058.23
CONSULTING-POLITICAL STRATEGY    (x71) $331,630.32
TRAVEL-TOLLS                     (x67)     $311.52
CAMPAIGN MERCHANDISE             (x67) $410,766.11
TRAVEL-CAB/TAXI                  (x53)  $66,906.26
PARKING FEES                     (x40)   $1,803.70
COMPUTER SUPPLIES                (x33)  $11,416.43
PARTY FEES/DUES                  (x24) $155,313.89

 

[harikaried]

Most frequent restaurants

Quizno's                     (x35)  $546.76
Buffalo Wild Wings           (x25)  $569.20
Starbucks                    (x17)  $136.07
Tokyo Steakhouse             (x17) $1217.28
Kum & Go                     (x15)  $141.95
Cazador Mexican Restaurant   (x12)  $151.50
Panera Bread                 (x12)  $152.51
Guadalajara Mexican Rest.    (x12)  $228.79
Jimmy John's                 (x12)  $181.60
West Towne Pub               (x12)  $269.34
Domino's - Concord           (x11)  $468.42
Papa Johns                    (x8)  $538.33
Subway                        (x8)   $74.64
D'Angelos                     (x7)   $76.93
Perkins Resturant & Bakery    (x7)  $355.87
HyVee- Ankeny, IA             (x7)  $138.85
Gateway Express               (x7)   $37.91
Thai Flavors                  (x7)  $162.06
McDonald's                    (x7)   $65.58
Panera Bread - Ankeny, IA     (x6)  $160.90

Restaurants with most money spent

Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant (x2) $12139.93
Washington Street Cafe              (x3)  $3597.00
Sam's Club - Baton Rouge            (x1)  $1323.67
Olde Main Brewing Co                (x2)  $1230.57
Tokyo Steakhouse                   (x17)  $1217.28
Flying Mango                        (x5)   $666.28
Fratello's Ristorante               (x1)   $626.31
The Lobster Trap                    (x1)   $573.74
Buffalo Wild Wings                 (x25)   $569.20
Quizno's                           (x35)   $546.76
Whittier House Resturant            (x2)   $538.94
Papa Johns                          (x8)   $538.33
Court Ave Brewing                   (x5)   $518.08
Charlie Palmer Steakhouse           (x1)   $510.06
Domino's - Concord                 (x11)   $468.42
Olympic Flame                       (x5)   $462.12
Johnny Steakhouse                   (x2)   $452.16
Hickory Park Restaurant             (x4)   $446.89
Ignite Bar & Grille                 (x1)   $443.32
Colosseum Restaurant                (x1)   $439.04

 

[rp08orbust]

This is a huge improvement in strategy over 2007, but I would like to have seen the campaign with zero cash on hand as of September 30 but with Ames and Presidency 5 straw poll wins in its pocket.

 

[Bruno]

Money well spent!

 

[JTforRP]

BTO could take this campaign to another level. Need to capitalize!

 

[John F Kennedy III]

BTO could take this campaign to another level. Need to capitalize!

$8mil or bust. Lets get to work guys.

 

[Cowlesy]

Awesome, I love seeing them throw down. Go team!!

 

[Napolitanic Wars]

This is a huge improvement in strategy over 2007

How specifically? What did they spend it on last time? Did they spend less early on?

 

[ZanZibar]

Heh... the Quiznos is next to the Iowa office.

 

[jbuttell]

I hope Ron eats healthy options... these places have questionable nutritional value... with all the stress of campaigning combined with his age, I hope he's eating the right fuel.

 

[harikaried]

If anyone is wondering about that big meal expense..

$12,038.90
Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant
200 Poydras St New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
06/17/2011

There was a meet & greet & celebration for Ron Paul winning the RLC straw poll (1st Paul 612 votes, 2nd Huntsman 382, 3rd Bachmann 191)
http://www.meetup.com/ronpaul-851/events/20154001/

 

[Suzu]

If anyone is wondering about that big meal expense..

$12,038.90
Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant
200 Poydras St New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
06/17/2011

There was a meet & greet & celebration for Ron Paul winning the RLC straw poll (1st Paul 612 votes, 2nd Huntsman 382, 3rd Bachmann 191)

Yup, I was there, the food was awesome. I don't normally consume alcoholic beverages but just for kicks I did have a beer and some wine at this shindig. Took a load of pics, too. Here's a sample:

 

[slamhead]

Checks for liberty

 

[sailingaway]

Yup, I was there, the food was awesome. I don't normally consume alcoholic beverages but just for kicks I did have a beer and some wine at this shindig. Took a load of pics, too. Here's a sample:

View attachment 715View attachment 716View attachment 717

I love those pictures!

 

[Suzu]

I love those pictures!

Well then here are a few more!

 

[Suzu]

Last one:

 

[Blankstare]

Dude I am so excited for Ron Paul to be making moves like this. Let's keep funding it. If all that comes from this entire campaign is not a win, but Ron Paul gets free lunch for a couple years, it would have been well worth it, for all the money he has saved the American tax payer, or attempted to save in lives by opposing wars. Ron Paul won't be taking the pension he really earned more than anyone else. I am hoping he gets much more money and spends every damn penny!