Ron Paul supporter campaigns on isles

In a largely symbolic move, top campaign officials for Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul visited Hawaii and Alaska this week to update supporters on the effort, meet with local party officials and hire staff where needed.

"We want people here in Hawaii, as well as Alaska, to realize that the Ron Paul campaign is designing and working on a national campaign to win the nomination," Kent Snyder, Paul's national campaign chairman, said at a news conference at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He noted that Lew Moore, the campaign manager, was making a similar visit to Alaska.

"We specifically targeted Alaska and Hawaii because it's symbolism, if you will, to show not only the residents here of our intentions of a national campaign, but also to show our supporters from around the country that we're not leaving any stone unturned."

Although the 10-term congressman from Texas is trailing in most polls, he has garnered national attention because of recent record-setting campaign contributions.

So far in the fourth quarter of 2008, Paul has raised more than $18 million nationally, including a $6.2 million haul on Sunday, mostly through Internet donations, his campaign said.

In Hawaii the Federal Election Commission reports Paul has raised $23,403 through Sept. 30, the most recent reporting date.