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That haul is just a fraction of the $20 million the campaign of retired brain surgeon Ben Carson says it is on track to post for the third quarter -- half of that money coming in in September alone.

Paul's third quarter total is well under the $7 million the libertarian firebrand raised in the second quarter. Part of that money was transferred from his Senate committee, a practice allowed under campaign finance laws, Gor said.

Paul was one of the first candidates to announce his bid, but has been polling in the low single digits in the race for the Republican nomination, but he has no plans to follow in the footsteps of low-polling Govs. Rick Perry of Texas and Scott Walker of Wisconsin and pull out of the race.

"Rand Paul's campaign is on an upswing, despite what a lot of reporters have written out there," Gor said. "Polls go up and down and this is literally a marathon and not a sprint. The fact that we are raising more than we're spending is a great indication that we're in this for the long haul."

Gor said Paul's campaign had raised $750,000 of its total for the quarter just since the CNN debate on Sept. 16, which he said was an indication that the base was excited by what he called the senator's "strong showing" at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

RELATED: Rand Paul: I'll outlast 'clown' Donald Trump

Paul has struggled to gain traction in a campaign season that has been dominated by so-called outsider candidates -- like Donald Trump, Carson and more recently Carly Fiorina -- who have never been elected to public office. Still, his campaign argues it has a built in advantage because of his father's, former Rep. Ron Paul, past White House bids and can benefit from networks already established in early states like Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, rather than having to build them from scratch.

The campaign has hired on new staffers in Nevada in recent weeks, though officials will not provide specific numbers on staffing levels.

"We've always said we'll have enough money to compete," Gor said.

Gor argued that while other campaigns - like Jeb Bush's and Carson's -- may bring in more money, Paul's small-donor focus is a good indicator of interest in his run. His campaign had more than 100,000 individual donors in the second quarter, compared to fewer than 10,000 for Bush, Gor said.

Paul, who is also running for re-election to the Senate, expects to participate in the next debate on CNBC on Oct. 28 -- another chance to make his case to voters before a large television audience.

"We're pleased that Sen. Paul will once again be on the main stage," said Gor.

Despite the campaign's view, it is not yet clear who will meet the criteria spelled out by CNBC. The network announced Wednesday that candidates must have an average of at least 3% among recognized national polls in order to participate in their primetime debate. Candidates who can't clear 3% will be relegated to the second-tier debate. Paul is one of several candidates hovering around the 3% mark in an average of recent national polls.

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Rand Paul raises $2.5 million in 3rd quarter - CNNPolitics.com

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will report around $2.5 million in donations to his presidential campaign, a dip from his first quarter, though his campaign is emphasizing that more money started to roll in recently.

"Not only are we in for the long haul but weve seen an uptick in crowds and support," said Paul's spokesman Sergio Gor. "Since the last debate weve raised $750,000."

One of the first candidates to officially declare for the White House, Paul had raised close to $7 million from April through June. That was slightly more than his father, former Texas Congressman Ron Paul, raised in the comparable period of his 2012 bid. But in the next quarter of that campaign, Ron Paul raised$8 million.

Gor emphasized that the new Paul campaign was on an "upward trend," especially since the second presidential debate. Paul had used thatforum emphasize his more libertarian stances, something some key Paul donors had privately asked for. "That was due to a solid debate performance that got our crowd excited," said Gor. "We're a solid campaign and our fundraising pace is doubling."

But the dropoff from the first quarter, coupled with thetroubles of two pro-Paul super PACs, could aid the ongoing efforts of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) to lure supporters into his camp. The weeks between the first and second debate saw one pro-Paul super PAC's leaders indicted, and another (less active) pro-Paul PAC announce that it was pausing its efforts until the candidate improved in the polls. The campaign has $2 million cash on hand, having already spent $250,000 to help the Republican Party of Kentucky pay for a presidential caucus. That will let Paul seek a Senate re-election as he tries toforgeahead in the White House race -- something the campaign says it has more than enough money and momentum to do.

David Weigel is a national political correspondent covering the 2016 election and ideological movements.

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Rand Paul raises $2.5 million in second quarter - The ...

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Paul criticized Cruz for breaching Senate decorum, saying the Texan could not accomplish any of his legislative priorities because of how much his GOP colleagues despise him.

"Ted has chosen to make this really personal and chosen to call people dishonest in leadership and call them names, which really goes against the decorum and also against the rules of the Senate, and as a consequence he can't get anything done legislatively," Paul said in an interview on Fox News Radio on Tuesday. "He is pretty much done for ... and it's really because of personal relationships, or lack of personal relationships, and it is a problem."

Paul said he was "still just as hardcore" in taking on the establishment as Cruz, but has declined to call colleagues names.

Last month, Cruz said on the Senate floor that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had lied to him.

Paul and Cruz have had a close relationship as two of the most libertarian members of the Senate GOP. But even though they were both elected with tea party support, they have increasingly forged different paths to power in the Senate.

Paul has allied himself with fellow Kentuckian McConnell, endorsing the Senate majority leader during his re-election bid last year when the ultimate insider faced down a conservative primary challenger. McConnell reciprocated the favor by endorsing Paul's presidential bid this year.

Paul's critique of Cruz came on the same day the Texas senator unveiled a leadership team of libertarians who supported Paul's father, former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.

The "Liberty Leaders for Cruz" coalition featured Iowans saying Ron Paul's legacy was best perpetuated by Cruz.

"The biggest thing about Ted Cruz was that I knew he had been endorsed by Ron Paul and by Rand Paul," said county supervisor Crystal McIntyre Tuesday, speaking of Cruz's Senate race.

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Rand Paul rebukes Ted Cruz as their rift widens ...

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In the aftermath of rival Ben Carson saying he wouldn't be able to support someone who subscribes to Islam to lead the country, the Kentucky senator said unequivocally that he believed the current president was born in the United States and is Christian. In the past, some other Republicans -- including GOP front-runner Donald Trump -- have at times publicly doubted the President's heritage and faith.

Paul said voters would nevertheless have an "honest question" about Muslims seeking the highest office.

"Do you believe literally that a woman should be stoned to death for adultery? Do you believe that when someone steals something, their hand should be cut off?" said Paul to CNN's Wolf Biltzer "The Situation Room."

Paul said he could back a Muslim "if they support the things that made America great -- constitutional principles, Bill of Rights -- but some of those are inconsistent with the interpretation of the Quran that's being put forward."

Paul, once a rising Republican star, now sits at the back of the 15-member GOP presidential field, according to national polling.

Paul, an opthamologist, told Blitzer on Tuesday that while he respected those who wished to forgo certain vaccinations, he would still suggest that his patients take them.

"I recommend that they do, but I also recommend freedom," Paul said. "I think in a free country, that ought to be your option."

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Rand Paul: Yes, Obama is a Christian - CNNPolitics.com

Rand Paul's political life

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul delivers remarks while announcing his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination during an event in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, April 7.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul and his wife, Kelley, wave to supporters in Louisville on April 7.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul speaks in Rochester, New Hampshire, prior to meeting potential voters in March.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul walks on stage before speaking at the Values Voter Summit in Washington in September.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul attends a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Syria in September.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul speaks at a news conference in June about the U.S. role in Syria.

Rand Paul's political life

Speaking at the University of California at Berkeley in March 2014, Paul speaks on the issues of privacy and curtailing domestic surveillance.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul addresses the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference, where he easily won the presidential straw poll.

Rand Paul's political life

From left, U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Paul attend a March 2014 news conference to announce a new medical marijuana bill at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Rand Paul's political life

In February 2014, Paul announced that he was suing President Barack Obama and top national security officials over the government's electronic surveillance program made public by intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul leaves the Capitol in March 2013 after staging a filibuster over the nomination of CIA Director John Brennan.

Rand Paul's political life

Ethics laws prevent senators from accepting payment for any job other that their duties in Washington. So Paul, a veteran eye surgeon, performs pro-bono procedures to keep current on his practice.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul speaks in Bowie, Maryland, in March 2013 during a discussion on reforming the criminal justice system.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul and his father speak with supporters in Ames, Iowa, before the start of a 2012 presidential campaign event.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul boards an elevator after attending a Republican caucus meeting in Washington in July 2011.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul unveils his own version of the federal budget during a news conference in March 2011.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul speaks to hometown supporters in Bowling Green, Kentucky, during his campaign for the Senate in November 2010.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul and his family celebrate his 2010 Senate victory during an election night party in Bowling Green.

Rand Paul's political life

Coming from his son's soccer game, Paul wears shorts and a suit jacket while preparing for his guest spot on a Fox News television program in May 2010.

Rand Paul's political life

Paul waits to tour a mine in Pineville, Kentucky, in May 2010.

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