Ron Paul to Hit Iowa Airwaves Next Week

On the heels of his record online fundraising haul this week, GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is reserving air time in Iowa next week, according to sources familiar with the ad traffic. The candidate appears to be readying an ad buy in excess of $100,000.

Could Ron Paul be the spoiler in the GOP primaries? (AP Photo)

Paul, who began the 2008 campaign as an afterthought, has drawn considerable attention over the last few months for both his fervent online following and his ability to raise money over the Internet. Between July 1 and Sept. 30, Paul raised more than $5 million -- roughly the same amount that John McCain brought in and five times the total fundraising of Mike Huckabee during that period. More importantly, Paul had $5.4 million in the bank at the end of the third quarter, a cash-on-hand total that surely increased after his $4 million day earlier this week.

With that kind of money in the bank, Paul will be able to run an active media campaign. He is already up with ads in New Hampshire. Here's the latest:

First of all, you've gotta love the Constitution as background motif. Second, the ads may be slightly amateurish, but they get the job done. Paul wants to make sure people know he wants to end the war in Iraq and drastically curtail government's influence in every day life.

Can Paul win the GOP nomination? No. But can he force the frontrunners to adjust their strategies to deal with him and his unique appeal? Yes. In fact, that's already happening.

By Chris Cillizza  |  November 9, 2007; 4:37 PM ET
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