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Ron Paul Defying the Odds Larry Fester
Published 10/11/2007 - 10:20 a.m. EDT




Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul continues to defy the odds and the media produced polls demonstrating support based on issues and ideas.

The cult of Ron Paul is truly a cult of individuals emanating from all walks of life. Still mostly Republican, Paul’s base of supporters includes many Independents and a growing number of Democrats.

Ron Paul has muscled his way just barely making it into the top tier of candidates by drawing large crowds at rallies across the country and raising 5 million in the third quarter. That number is five times what Mike Huckabee raised and leaves Paul with almost a couple million in cash above what John McCain has.




While the GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani has 16 million in cash, Ron Paul has 5.3 million on hand. Still far behind Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, Paul’s campaign must be encouraged by the success.

In fact, if the current trend of fund raising and spending were to continue by the candidates Paul could possible end up with as much cash in hand as the frontrunners by the time of the New Hampshire primary. Paul’s campaign is running a lean machine living off the land.

In some respects Ron Paul’s campaign is making history with his online fund raising efforts. The Ron Paul campaign true to free market form is letting it all hang out so to speak by showing online donations in real time on its website.

The move is bold and daring but it shows a growing confidence in a campaign that believes it can win the Republican nomination. While the GOP nomination is up for grabs one thing is clear, Ron Paul can win it.

Broadcasters and reporters that say he has no chance at all of winning are spinning. The New Hampshire primary usually predicts the party nominee and Paul’s chances of running away with New Hampshire are very strong.

Paul is being fueled by his support of immensely popular issues.

Ron Paul clearly says he’s not a pacifist and believes in a strong national defense, but he is a non interventionist and the antiwar candidate in the campaign. Right now that is a very popular position. Unlike Hillary Clinton, Paul voted against the war which would make a potent weapon in a general election.

Still, as the New Hampshire primary is concerned, the Republican field is divided of mostly pro war candidates on one side and Ron Paul on the other.

Paul’s call to eliminate federal income taxes is immensely popular in GOP politics as well.

Another very popular issue Paul has championed is defense of constitutional liberties and opposition to a growing police state in the U.S. Every time a story surfaces where the CIA kidnapped and tortured someone in a secret prison or the government searches private persons and property without a warrant Paul’s opposition to the Patriot Act and defense of the constitution seems to have been wise.

The GOP field is littered with candidates that have weak records on border security and illegal immigration. Paul is one of the few candidates running that is credible on border security. Policing the borders is more popular with voters than creating a police state is.

Former Mexican president Fox admitted on television that he supported a North American Union and to of having joint goals in the past with President Bush of establishing a regional currency. Paul is ahead of the curve on this issue and has already stated opposition to a North American union.

It appears that the reason Paul is defying the odds is simply because he’s on the popular side of many issues.

The ideas of peace, freedom, and prosperity are very potent and may cut across party lines. (Discuss the election on www.usadaily.net