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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. (David Zalubowski, AP)

The first finance report filed by Sen. Rand Pauls presidential campaign shows Kentuckys junior senator has expanded upon his father Ron Pauls mastery of building a vast network of small donors.

But in a crowded campaign likely to be dominated by super PACs that can accept contributions of unlimited amounts from billionaires, Paul finds himself at best in the middle of the pack in the critical struggle for the big money it will take to win the 2016 Republican nomination for president.

In a report filed Wednesday night with the Federal Election Commission, the Paul campaign reported raising $6.9 million between April when Paul announced his candidacy and June 30.

Of that total, $3.2 million came in small donations of $200 or less. Within the group of 15 GOP presidential candidates, only retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has raised a higher percentage of his contributions from small donors.

Former Florida governorJeb Bush, for instance, reported raising much more during the period than Paul $11.4 million. But Bush reported only $368,000 in contributions of $200 or less.

Paul campaign spokesman Sergio Gor declined to comment to The Courier-Journal. But he told Breitbart News last week that 108,205 individual donors have given to Paul, with the average contribution of $65.

Gor said those numbers show Paul has powerful grass-roots support of real voters across the country.

But unlike any presidential race before the 2016 campaign will be funded by the super PACs that support particular candidates.

Super PACs can accept contributions of unlimited amounts from individuals and corporations. But a campaign can accept donations of no more than $2,700 per person.

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Rand Paul raises $6.9 million for presidential campaign ...