Kudos - Ron Paul, HF supporter Bill H.R. 2117

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Article published Jul 11, 2007

Paul rises from GOP unknown to 'sleeper'

 

Washington Times

July 11, 2007

 

 

By Ralph Z. Hallow and Christina Bellantoni - Aides helping Rep. Ron

Paul of Texas with his long-shot run for the Republican presidential

nomination never thought they would need more than the corner of a

one-bedroom apartment.

 

They were wrong. The campaign has outgrown its second headquarters,

a 348-square-foot office.

 

Mr. Paul has more campaign cash available than former Republican

front-runner Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Federal Election

Commission records show, and the antiwar conservative has become an

Internet sensation.

 

Though political pros say Mr. Paul's chances of moving into the

White House are between slim and none, some expect him to have an

effect on the Republican race.

 

" I watched the Republican presidential debates with neighbors, and

two of the five people in the room said, 'Who is that guy? I really

like him,' " said Republican media consultant Tom Edmonds. " My gut

tells me he's a sleeper and will indeed have an impact on the

Republican race. "

 

The Texas obstetrician — whose habit of opposing measures he deems

unconstitutional won him the sobriquet " Dr. No " — is admired as a

man of principle by many conservative leaders and has won attention

from voters across the land, including Democrats.

 

Iowan Alex Gabis attended an event for Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois

Democrat, in the Fairfield town square last week, but another

presidential candidate was on his mind.

 

" There is a Republican I like — he's from Texas, " Mr. Gabis

volunteered. " I don't look at the label. I listen to what he says. I

think his name is Ron Paul. I like him. I'd vote for him. "

 

Mr. Paul, who raised most of his campaign dollars in the past

quarter on the Internet and has $2.4 million cash on hand, wowed

young voters across the country last month when he appeared on

Comedy Central's " Colbert Report. "

 

When host Stephen Colbert introduced Mr. Paul as having voted

against the USA Patriot Act and the Iraq war, the liberal audience

went wild with cheers. Mr. Colbert asked, " Are you a Republican or

are you not a Republican? " Mr. Paul responded: " You're confused

because I'm a constitutionalist. ... It's not that unusual to put

those together if you believe in the rule of law, and you believe in

the American tradition, and believe in limited government and you

believe in liberty. "

 

Mr. Paul was one of six House Republicans to vote against the Iraq

war in 2002.

 

Commentator Pat Buchanan says Mr. Paul's effect on the race will

depend on the size of the vote he attracts.

 

" If he starts running up 15 percent or 20 percent of the vote in

Republican primaries, it says: The GOP is headed in the wrong

direction, secure the border, get out of Iraq, come home, America, "

Mr. Buchanan told The Washington Times.

 

Influencing the Republican stance on major issues is the most likely

outcome of the Paul candidacy.

 

" While I am very skeptical that he will win the nomination,

historically challengers' biggest impact has been in shaping the

debate — forcing the more popular candidates to address issues they

might like to gloss over, " said Merrill Matthews, resident scholar

at the Institute for Policy Innovation in Dallas. " I suspect Paul's

principled opposition to massive government spending and the war

could reach out to two different GOP groups — one large, one not so

large — with the message: 'You are not alone.' "

 

Mr. Matthews sees a twofold effect for Mr. Paul: " His libertarian

bent makes him the most principled of the Republican candidates. The

large segment of the conservative base shares his rebellion against

the GOP's willingness to become part of Washington's big-spending

establishment. And as the only antiwar Republican candidate, he may

provide a safe harbor to conservatives who are increasingly growing

dissatisfied with the war. "

 

Still, even some admirers are skeptics.

 

" Certainly there is a case to be made for a GOP protest vote in

favor of Ron Paul, " said Jameson Campaigne Jr., an Illinois-based

director of the American Conservative Union. " But I don't think

small-'c' conservative voters dare waste a vote on such a thing —

unless the three front-runners in January are all discredited — Mitt

Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson. "

 

Mr. Buchanan thinks the Texan is in it for the duration.

 

" If he stays in the race, he will have a solid, hard-core but small

following the whole way through the nomination contest, " the former

Nixon and Reagan White House aide said. " He has the money to go the

distance because he harbors his resources. "

 

c Ms. Bellantoni reported from Iowa; Mr. Hallow from Washington.