Ron Paul Has Strong Showing in Final Primaries
There have been a lot of questions recently about the ability of Democrats to unite behind Obama. Many forget that Ron Paul is still in the race and has been doing well despite the fact McCain formally locked up the nomination a long time ago. The difference between this situation and the Democratic situation, is McCain and Paul are no where near each other on the issues. The campaign between Hillary and Obama may have been emotional but there wasn't much room between them on the key issues of the day. It will be interesting to see how Paul ends his revolution and where his voters will end up in November. Will they vote Democrat because of the Iraq war? Will they back Barr on economic issues? Will they unite behind McCain as "Republicans"?
-Darryl
Ron Paul Has Strong Showing in Final Primaries
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – Presidential candidate Ron Paul received a total of over 45,000 votes in the final three Republican presidential primaries on June 3. Dr. Paul’s strongest showing was in Montana, where he garnered 22 percent of the vote, followed by 17 percent in South Dakota and 14 percent in New Mexico respectively.
“Dr. Paul’s grassroots supporters across the country are doing a tremendous job spreading our message, winning votes, and laying a strong foundation for the future,” said campaign spokesman Jesse Benton.
To date, Dr. Paul has received well over one million votes in Republican presidential contests.
****Let Ron Paul Speak at GOP convention!!!
May 30, 2008. From the Star Tribune (Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota): "Presidential candidate Ron Paul rallied outside the GOP state convention Friday at Rochester Mayo Memorial Park after party leadership denied him a spot to speak inside the convention."
****
Ron Paul in San Diego
Part 1
Part 2:
Posts
.jpg){kind=logo}
6 comments:
Come on.. you're going to compare Hillary's victories to Ron Paul's pathetic teens results?
McCain beat Ron Paul 80-20 and wasn't even trying! And its not for lack of money neither, Ron Paul had millions to spend remember?
Ron Paul was actively campaigning against a man who was practically ignoring him. And he still couldn't break the 20% threshold in even small states. That tells me that he really is a nobody in this race.
A nobody?
The Republican party is somewhat handicapped going forward - that someone like Ron Paul with a vision so different from the party status quo garnered around a million votes along with significant youth activism is not insignificant - votes that used to go to Bush in 2000/2004 are now likely going to Libertarian and/or Constitution Party. Perhaps in states like Montana where the Republican party might lose anyway - their fate will be sealed. The Republican party is becoming fractured similar to how the PC's in Canada became fractured in the late '80's. Some former Republican supporters are distressed about things like the Bush Adminsitration pushing for mexican trucks on US roads and an out of control fiscal situation etc... Ron Paul has also influenced the debate in the nation - if there are plans for a future NAU etc... those have been stymied to a certain degree by Ron Paul's supporters who have borne the label of kook in its defense. (If there was a future push for a common currency those acussers would look pretty stupid). Finally, whenever the dollar goes down Ron Paul gains credibilty since this is what he has warning so much about. Look for the "Don't blame me I voted for Ron Paul" bumper stickers in the future.
Yes, a nobody. In this race.
He has had no impact on the race whatsoever. He has raised millions but hasn't broken out of the low to mid teens. He hasn't advanced his agenda at all. No poll shows that Montana is slipping from the GOP grasp... its been shown to be firmly in the GOP hands. There is no evidence that Ron Paul maniacs are going to defect en masse to the Constitution or Libertarian parties and its questionable if many of his supporters were really that keen on the GOP to begin with.
At least Tancredo (or Hunter or whatever his name is) can say that he helped put the immigration issue front and center. (whether you agree with his stance or not) He's a nobody who's issue has become national fodder.
Besides, my point has been this:
To compare the internal strife in the Democratic party through the struggle between Hillary and Obama to the 'strife' in the GOP between McCain and Ron Paul is simply ridiculous.
On one hand you have two national candidates battling it out state by state. On the other you have one national candidate ignoring the other.
Really.. lets be serious.
Okay, I'll admit I was wrong about Montana likely falling from GOP control - and indeed many of Ron Paul supporters were former Democrat supporters/Independants or non-voters. But I think Ron Paul has influenced the debate in the nation - if only at the kitchen table.
The fact 40% of Republicans prefer a different candidate than McCain combined with the fact that a million voters are backing Ron Paul is a sign the Republicans are in deep trouble. Hillary's speeches over the weekend will likely persuade most of her supporters to back a Democrat. Unlike Paul and McCain; there is very little difference on the main issues between Obama and Clinton. The same cannot be said for McCain against Huckabee (social Conservative) or Romney (familiar with the economy). Republicans are trailing Democrats in registered voters after the primary season, funds raised and it is unclear if their disenfranchised base is enthusiastic enough to come out and make this race competitive with Obama. The country is calling for change and McCain is the status quo of Bush.
***
Poll: Obama leads McCain nationally by slight margin
By The Associated Press – 2 days ago
THE RACE: The presidential race nationally
___
THE NUMBERS
Barack Obama, 47 percent
John McCain, 43 percent
Ralph Nader, 6 percent
___
OF INTEREST:
If Nader, the independent, is not included, Obama's lead is 49 percent to 46 percent. About one in five voters say they may change their minds. Four in 10 Democrats say Hillary Rodham Clinton should stay in the race until the party's August convention. If she is Obama's running mate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is McCain's, the Democrats' lead is 6 percentage points. Just over half of Democrats want Obama to put Clinton on his ticket, and if he doesn't one in four want her to fight for the spot at the convention. More than four in 10 Republicans still say they'd rather see the GOP nominate someone besides McCain.
Darryl:
With all due respect, you're pointing to a poll that shows the two to be practically within the margin of error.
Obama is the next Kennedy! Obama is the Democratic Reagan! Obama is the solution we've all been looking for!
Then why can't he break away from McCain, who in your own description is not preferred by 40% of his own party, is behind in fundraising, and who's base GOP is significantly behind the base Democrats (in terms of registered voters).
Obama has dominated the news for the last 3 months (?) and he still hasn't dominated the polls. As you pointed out, he hasn't broken away at all.
Besides, 40% of the GOP preferring someone else doesn't translate into them voting for someone else. On the other hand polls have shown that 30% of Clinton supporters WILL vote for McCain rather than Obama in some states. Regardless of what the differences in positions voters are clearly saying that they see a difference between Clinton and Obama, while the social conservatives are saying that McCain is 'adequate'.
As for Ron Paul, I did address the 1 million vote issue. They're not all GOP members voting for him.
Anonymous: Sure, he has put himself on the map that way. He has national name recognition, everyone knows about him now. But for what cause? To what ends? I don't see his candidacy having changed any of the discussions going on.
Post a Comment