I was shocked when Congressman Ron Paul won the CPAC straw poll last month. I will not be shocked if Ron Paul wins the Southern Republican Leadership Conference poll next month in New Orleans. Campaign for Liberty, which was founded by Paul, has reportedly purchased 800 tickets to SRLC at a cost of $92,000. With a block of 800 votes, Dr. Paul does not have to pick up many of the other votes at SRLC to win the straw poll.
Winning these straw polls could push Paul to the forefront as the candidate with an advantage in the 2012 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Being able to pick off the top two beauty contest certainly raises his profile. It demonstrates he has the organization and the funding to beat other candidates and he very well may enter the primary season as the front runner. I do not know how Ron Paul will play in Iowa but with the caucus system of Iowa, a few dedicated supporters could propel him to a victory in that contest. Much like a straw poll, the caucus system is as much about the intensity of support as it is the degree of support. Ron Paul’s supporters may be more likely to get to the caucuses than are the supporters of other candidates. One thing you must say about Ron Paul supporters is that they are intense. They care deeply. They are motivated and dedicated. One could almost say they are fanatical.
While I am excited by the growth of the conservative movement, the revitalized Republican Party, and the public’s rejection of the directions Obama wants to take this country, I am not excited by the Ron Paul movement. Ron Paul is simply outside of the mainstream. I think that should Paul win the Republican nomination in 2012 it will be a disaster. I predict that if Ron Paul is the 2012 Republican candidate, President Obama will be reelected in a land slide. I don’t want to see that happen.
Unfortunately, at this time, I see no other candidate that excites the base of the party the way Ron Paul excites his supporters. I hope that candidate emerges. I want someone to emerge that I can get excited about. I want someone I can be for rather just settle for. I am hoping a dark horse emerges who can excite the base and yet not frighten the electorate.
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You go to war with the army you have. While I doubt Ron Paul will win the 2012 nomination, I would welcome it. I disagree with him on some things, but we need someone like him to move us toward are more constitutional government. Everyone else seems too wishy-washy.
ReplyDeleteBeing out of the mainstream is a good thing, a very good thing, esp by observing where the mainstream has carried things downstream so far.
ReplyDelete"Ron Paul is simply outside of the mainstream." So, are you saying that when someone emerges who is within the "mainstream" you'll be excited? That's really strange. In these times, being outside of the "mainstream," is the winning team to be on.
ReplyDeleteSad state of affairs when real small government principles and free market economics (not pro-business)are not mainstream.
ReplyDeleteThe mainstream does not believe that 9-11 was an inside job.
ReplyDelete