Paul Campaign Expanding Staff in Florida and Feb. 5 States

With another whopper of an online fundraiser yesterday, Rep. Ron Paul solidifies his status as the Internet sensation of the 2008 contest.

Paul spokesman Jesse Benton told On Call that the campaign raised $6M yesterday, for a total of $18.3M this quarter. He said the campaign will spend the cash in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

"We are currently staffing up in Florida and Feb. 5th states, and purchasing paid media," he added.

Benton said that more than 26,000 donations from first time contributors poured in over the Internet. The last big online fundraiser was Nov. 5th; Paul supporters gave $4.3M that day.

"We are planning to campaign hard until we win or are mathematically eliminated," Benton said. "Ron has no plans or intentions to run third party."

In Iowa today, the mild-mannered 10-term congressman said with that his fundraising take, he's finally getting some respect in Washington.

"Actually, there's a better rapport now with other Republicans when I go on the House floor," he said in response to a question about how fellow Republicans are reacting to his alternative anti-war message. "I think they respect fundraising. And their antennas are up!"

"They're having trouble raising money," he added, reports NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann. "So there's some respect for this."

This influx of money will allow Paul to tough out a Republican contest that appears totally in flux. On Call wonders ... Could Paul hurt McCain in NH, the early state that gave McCain a 19-point primary victory over George W. Bush in 2000. Given the Mike Huckabee surge in Iowa and Mitt Romney's focus on the state, McCain is unlikely to take the top two spots there. (Though stranger things have happened.) He's more likely to find fortune with Granite State voters.

But Paul is also a draw in New Hampshire. He's campaigned hard there. He's been on the air. And if he takes 10 or 12 points on Jan. 8, he could hamper McCain's hoped-for resurrection.

(JENNIFER SKALKA)