Paul launches $2M ad campaign in early voting states

By: Rodney Hawkins
Topics: Campaign 2012

Ron Paul is taking to the airwaves with a $2 million ad campaign in key early-voting states that touts his plan for massive budget cuts and likens his Republican presidential rivals to President Obama.

The slickly produced ads will begin airing this weekend in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, according to Paul spokesman Jesse Benton.

One of the ads (at left) focuses on Paul's recently unveiled economic plan, which calls for the dismantling of five Cabinet agencies, among other budget cuts. Another highlights Paul's consistent calls for federal belt-tightening by showing him making similar points in film clips that date back nearly a quarter-century (watch below). Viewers watch the lawmaker's hair go from dark black to snowy white over the course of the 60-second spot, which suggests that other Republican candidates are taking similar positions on federal bailouts and subsidies to Obama's.

The ad buy is a reflection of the fundraising prowess that could make Paul a significant factor in the campaign despite his relatively low poll numbers. As of Sept. 30, Paul's presidential campaign committee had raised more than $12 million.

Paul's last major ad campaign aired in New Hampshire and Iowa in early September and attacked presidential rival (and fellow Texan) Rick Perry for once supporting Al Gore for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination. Perry, a Democrat at the time, later changed parties.

Rodney Hawkins
Rodney Hawkins covers the 2012 presidential campaign for CBS News and National Journal.
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by Ben_Si October 22, 2011 4:53 PM EDT: Ron Paul Supporters, this is a reminder:

Remember to donate: www.ronpaul2012.com. Every little bit helps. Start digging through the couch cushions and your purse for change if you have to. The campaign needs that money now!

Remember to go to and bookmark this site: www.buy4paul.com. Every time you need make an online purchase at a place like Amazon or Sears, go through this site and a percentage of your purchase price will go towards Ron Paul's campaign!; Reply to this comment


by whatthehellbook October 22, 2011 3:01 AM EDT: Speak the truth Ron Paul!!!

http://www.whatthehellbook.com/the-book/; Reply to this comment


by starspangledbanner October 21, 2011 10:51 PM EDT: Ron Paul is vindicated everyday and more people are finding out about his common sense approach.

It takes the death of foreign dictators or terrorist to vindicate Obama and Hillary and their bragging rights. All of which has nothing to do with the sad state of our economy. Yet they brag and act superior. Arrogant and misled. What a joke they are and what little sense they make to the common man or woman on the street trying to make ends meet.; Reply to this comment


by NadePaulKuciGravMcKi October 21, 2011 8:23 AM EDT: We remember how the media subverts elections.; Reply to this comment


by janmac65 October 21, 2011 8:03 AM EDT: Sad but typical slanted excuse for reporting. No mention of where the money came - ongoing money bomb, individuals, military - but words like "slick". Those of us doing our own thinking know better than this. You can do better, CBS.; Reply to this comment


by bondservent1 October 20, 2011 11:41 PM EDT: It is a shame that the only way Ron Paul can get any airtime is to pay for it with the donations that his supporters have donated. The most donations from active military, the largest pool of supporters that give what they can in small amounts,not liked Bankster backed Romney or Cain.; Reply to this comment


by PinkScorpio October 20, 2011 11:08 PM EDT: We have to elect this man. We can't continue the way we are. Please tell everyone you know to get to know Ron Paul through his speeches, old and new, videos, and especially his website, where he gives you his views on the issues, at www.ronpaul2012.com He stands for ALL of us, not just special interests and big government. He is honest, respected, and willing to do the tough love our country needs.; Reply to this comment


by xtrabiggg61 October 20, 2011 10:57 PM EDT: Let me get this straight... We have a problem- we are spending too much, and borrowing too much, and our crushing Tax Load on small and medium-size businesses forces them to stop hiring, lay off workers and close up shop and move oveseas, be bought up for pennies on the dollar by international conglomerates, or else go out of business. And the only solutions proposed are MORE government spending, MORE borrowing and INCREASING taxes? It is unfathomable that the ONLY man preaching fiscal sanity and common economic sense is being excoriated in the press as 'crazy' and 'radical'. How many more Americans will have to lose their jobs, their homes and their lives before our leaders wake up and make the tough choices necessary to right this economy?

Ron Paul is proposing solutions that only seem radical because 'conventional wisdom' in Washington and Wall Street is so far out of touch with reality. Cut Spending. Balance the budget. Do it NOW- not ten years from now. Is that Crazy? or are those who criticize Ron Paul's plan the ones who are crazy?; Reply to this comment

by k9Unleashed October 20, 2011 9:37 PM EDT

Have you read the jobs act? are you sure its named appropriately? as far as i can see it gives the bureaucrats the ability to dole out cash to their favorite donors, the washington pay to play program. Both parties are guilty of this, and it has to STOP!

All they have to do is appropriate it,and I would be in favor of it. That way if they screw up, we would know extactly who to blame, and who to put in jail. Big business is hidding behind these large agencies. Aren't you tired of getting robbed?

Only after they approve it do we only find out where it goes. I'm so tired of it. Remember TARP "troubled asset relief program" brought to you by Bush? let's just rename it "The Banker Mega Bonus jackpot Screw The Rest Of Us Program". And the consequence was that the banks got even bigger. what is going on?

That message was approved by BOTH parties. Can you say Corrupt! I just don't trust them anymore.

And where was the Media, you know, the ones that are supposed to be keeping them honest? what is going on?

I was concerned about man made global warming when the issue was raised, but have you looked at their solution? Cap and Trade. That enables the rich to polute, make gobs of money, and get away with it by making the tax payer pay for the cleanup, its not a solution at all.

Status quo Democrats and Republicans can no longer be trusted. I remember when McCain said "the fundamentals are strong", then the financial sector crashed, obviously he was absolutely clueless! A vote for Obama was a no brainer, but now it's the same with Obama!
I remember that the health care industry gave 80 Billion for 50 million people. We've been sold out! where is the honesty? where is the empathy? where is humanity? I can tell you one thing for sure. ITS NOT LOCATED ANYWHERE ROMETLY CLOSE TO THE FEDERAL GOV'T

This time i've done some research, and guess what? the Media again is missing again! you're right they are bickering over trivials, lets just take phalix sizes to see who should win, might prove more productive.

Ron Paul is the only one that has displayed honesty, empathy and humanity. he's a cut above the rest PERIOD.

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by k9Unleashed October 20, 2011 9:49 PM EDT: sorry about the double post, the website keeps freezing.


by bse2 October 20, 2011 9:28 PM EDT: Ron Paul is right on economics. Prosperity is all about efficiency. Every dollar that the government takes is a dollar that will not be used efficiently to create prosperity for the people of the United States. Only Ron Paul is addressing the real problem, which is spending. - Or of course, we could continue the socialist slide into bankruptcy with any of the other candidates.

Ron Paul is right on the constitution. The Constitution is an express powers, limited government document. This means the government can only exercise those powers which the constitution expressly delegates to. We have almost forgotten this today, and it is the major reason for our problems. Herman Cain for instance proposed a 999 tax plan including a national sales tax. The constitution does NOT authorize a sales tax. His 999 plan is unconstitutional besides being a scheme to raise taxes. - why is anyone even discussing it?

Ron Paul is right on foreign policy. If we continue in the vein of Viet Nam, the Gulf War, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, - all illegal, undeclared wars - we will fail as a nation. Ron Paul understands the principles of just war, - from which we are not immune. A pre-emptive war (Gulf War, Iraq) is an unjust war. A just people cannot win an unjust war unless they become unjust. Let us hope this never happens.; Reply to this comment