Rand Paul's unstoppable momentum

Here's a small step for liberty. One voice for peace, sound money and limited government out of 100. But it will be a loud, strong voice. And others will join him, because the people are waking up. Is it too late? Who can say?

Associated Press -

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Former presidential candidate Ron Paul's son is borrowing a page from his father's playbook for his U.S. Senate bid, leaning heavily on Internet fundraising and tapping the enthusiasm of young Republicans on college campuses.

The difference this time is that it could actually work. Eye surgeon Rand Paul, once ignored as a longshot, raised more than his main 2010 GOP primary opponent in the most recent fundraising period, and experts say he has a legitimate shot at winning the Senate seat being vacated by colorful Republican Jim Bunning.

"On some levels, it's more than a grass roots campaign," said Western Kentucky University political scientist Scott Lasley. "It's a guerrilla campaign. It's not the easiest to compete against."

Paul is doing traditional outreach through direct mail and the mainstream media, but also using Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites to get his message out. Though similar nontraditional strategies did not sweep Ron Paul into the White House, they could work on a smaller scale.

"The momentum is there now," said Rand Paul, 46, who is painting his candidacy as a way for people who feel disenfranchised to take back their government. "I don't think we can stop it."

Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning Republican congressman from Texas, abandoned his 2008 White House bid long before Election Day. He did not win any primaries, but developed a strong following on the Internet and set a single-day record for raising money online.

Since entering the race in August, his son has banked more than $1.3 million. His chief GOP opponent, Secretary of State Trey Grayson, collected $1.2 million between May and October, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Paul's fundraising prowess will help him generate the name recognition he needs to win, said Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist who served as a special assistant to former President George W. Bush and campaign adviser for Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's successful re-election bid last year. Rand Paul has lived in Kentucky for 18 years, but has never run for office.

"The resources he's brought to the table makes him competitive," Jennings said.

The eventual Republican nominee will likely face one of two well-funded Democrats, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo or Attorney General Jack Conway.

Although Kentucky is solidly Democratic by voter registration, it tends to vote Republican in federal races, meaning the party nominee will likely be the favorite heading into the general election. The GOP holds both Senate seats and four of six House seats, and in last year's presidential election Republican John McCain won the state with 57 percent of the vote compared with 41 percent for Democrat Barack Obama.