WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, aided by an extraordinary outpouring of Internet support Monday, hauled in more than $3.5 million in 20 hours.

Paul, the Texas congressman with a Libertarian tilt and an out-of-Iraq pitch, entered heady fundraising territory with a surge of Web-based giving tied to the commemoration of Guy Fawkes Day.

Mark it down: A landmark moment entered the annals of political fundraising Nov. 5, 2007.

If Texas Republican Ron Paul's Web site fundraising meter is to be believed, the Libertarian candidate, who has lagged in the polls but raised as much money as top-tier candidates, passed $3 million in online fundraising in less than 24 hours.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Presidential campaigns and supporters use all sorts of gimmicks to try and raise money, such as celebrating birthdays, winning a chance to dine with a candidate and marking November 5 as an anniversary.

Huh? November 5?

Supporters of Rep. Ron Paul’s presidential bid are using this date to help boost the Texas Republican’s campaign coffers, in what is being described as a massive grassroots on-line fundraising drive. ...

Ron Paul has had quite the fundraising day. The candidate has raised almost $2.4 million today on the campaign’s This November 5th money push. The campaign has a lofty fourth-quarter goal of $12 million, and it is nearly halfway there, according to its Web site with $5.5 million raised so far. The fourth quarter doesn’t end until Dec. 31.