Ron Paul Raises $4.5 Million for Campaign in January

(Updates with fundraising figures, candidate filings starting in first paragraph. For more campaign news, see ELECT.)

Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Representative Ron Paul’s presidential campaign said today it had raised $4.5 million last month, bringing its total to more than $30 million.

Paul, a Texas Republican, entered February with $1.6 million in the bank, the campaign said in advance of its filing with the Federal Election Commission.

The campaign announced on its website today that it has also raised more than $1.7 million so far this month.

Paul “is the only one prepared for an exhaustive 50-state campaign in terms of organization, ballot access, and fundraising stamina,” Jesse Benton, national campaign chairman, said in a statement.

Texas Governor Rick Perry, who withdrew from the Republican presidential race Jan. 19 and endorsed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, reported that he had $860,168 in the bank at the end of January. He has asked the FEC for permission to convert his campaign account to a political action committee. He raised $388,531 last month, bringing his total to $20.5 million.

Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, the only Republican candidate seeking federal funds to help finance his campaign, raised $48,807, bringing his total to $393,839, including a $24,900 personal loan. He had $7,126 in the bank.

Presidential candidates must report their January finances to the FEC by the end of today.

--With assistance from Kristin Jensen in Washington. Editors: Jeanne Cummings, Robin Meszoly

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at [email protected].

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jeanne Cummings at [email protected].