Ron Paul to Stop Competing in Primaries, Focus on Convention Delegates

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Ron Paul announced today he will suspend active campaigning in the GOP presidential race, but will continue to campaign for delegates at state conventions. The news comes after his son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), late last week dismissed the suggestion that his father is quietly planning a nominating convention coup.

“For all practical purposes, it is over. The numbers are there and Mitt Romney’s going to win the nomination,” Rand Paul said during an interview Thursday.  Full story

Romney Visiting RNC Wednesday

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

Mitt Romney is scheduled Wednesday to make his first visit to Republican National Committee headquarters since becoming the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, according to a party source.

The former Massachusetts governor is expected to drop by the RNC’s Capitol Hill offices around midday, in a visit described as being meant to rally the troops. He’ll be campaigning in Virginia on Wednesday and Thursday.

Such visits are typical of newly minted presidential nominees, who, in securing the GOP nod, become the leader of the national party — at least until Election Day.

The clear leader in nominating delegates to the Tampa convention, Romney secured his presumptive status after former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) dropped out of the primary. Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) is still running but is not viewed as a factor in the race.

Reports: Newt Gingrich Preparing to End Campaign

(Bill Clark/ CQ Roll Call)

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) is preparing to end his now-longshot bid for the presidency, according to multiple reports.

Senior campaign aides told Fox News that Gingrich will formally exit the race for the Republican nomination on Tuesday. Gingrich indicated he was on his way out while speaking with reporters in Cramerton, N.C., this morning, just hours after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney swept five primaries and was anointed the “presumptive nominee” by the Republican National Committee. Full story

Obama Raises More Than $53 Million in March; Republicans Pounce

The Obama campaign announced today in a Web video that its collective March fundraising total was “over $53 million.”

The video featured various campaign supporters announcing their small donations to the campaign, followed by a message from campaign manager Jim Messina. The figures include fundraising from the Democratic National Committee.

NRCC Raised $4.8 Million in January

The National Republican Congressional Committee raised $4.8 million in January and had $17.6 million in cash on hand at the end of last month.

That means the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee outraised the NRCC by more than $1 million in the first month of the year.

The DCCC pulled in $6 million last month. But Democrats added only about $1.5 million to their bankroll, while the GOP netted about $2.4 million from December to January. Democrats spent heavily on winning a special election in a Oregon’s 1st district last month.

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee raised $10.4 million in January and ended the month with $23.4 million in cash on hand, according to the RNC.