Ron Paul's Campaign Is a Family Business, FEC Reports Show

The way Benton explains it, the candidate has "acknowledged that he is not going to be the nominee" but is "continuing a positive, respectful campaign to influence the policies of the Republican Party."

And this "second phase," as Benton describes it, is financed by the money raised largely during the first phase, when people were sending contributions to fuel Paul's presidential ambitions.

Now, as he tours the country, Paul is drawing attention to his book, "The Revolution: A Manifesto," which currently ranks seventh on the New York Times bestseller list.

The parent company of the book's publisher, Hachette Book Group USA, also turns up as a vendor to the campaign. The Paul campaign paid the publisher $1,115 in April. Asked about the expense, Benton said the campaign "purchased about 60 books to give to supporters."

That practice is also legal, as long as the candidate does not derive any personal benefit from the sales.

While his campaign activity and expenditures have slowed, several relatives continue to get paid, including Laura Paul and the Texas accounting firm Paul, Phipps & Co.

Wayne Paul, who helps run Paul, Phipps, said his firm has maintained an account for all of his brother's employees "to ensure they get checks twice a month and that all reports are properly filed."

The accountant explained that the person who did Paul's books earlier in the campaign was having trouble with payroll.

"It was a matter of ensuring there were no more third parties that attempted to screw up my brother's campaign by not filing proper returns," Wayne Paul explained. "If that's impropriety, by God . . . have at it. It was done out of sheer necessity. Our firm was repaid for purposes of ensuring that everybody got properly paid."

Research editor Alice Crites contributed to this report.