The Republicans like Paul Ryan, they really like him. And on Saturday they showed it by showering more than $1 million in donations on the Romney campaign in the first hours since his name was officially announced.
From Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul:
HERE FIRST:
@mittromney has raised over $1.2 million since pick of@paulryanvp#LessThan4Hours— Andrea Saul (@andreamsaul) August 11, 2012
The Ryan choice first leaked to the press late Friday night. At around 7 AM Saturday morning, the campaign made the choice official with an announcement via smartphone app.
At 10:42 AM, following the speeches by both Romney and Ryan in Norfolk, VA, the Romney campaign sent out a brief fundraising email capitalizing on the Ryan selection which was the fantasy of conservatives everywhere.
The appeal — and the move to appease conservatives by picking Ryan — appears to have worked.
Meanwhile, the Obama campaign is also raising money off the Ryan selection. Democrats are as thrilled with the Ryan pick as Republicans are, and Obama campaign manager Jim Messina put his name to a Ryan-themed fundraising appeal that arrived just minutes after Romney’s. The Obama campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the results of the fundraising push.