Can Ron Paul turn a populist libertarian campaign into as successful run for Republican standard bearer ? Or is he just a reincarnation of Howard Dean?
Ron Paul's supporters blitzed the net yesterday and hauled in over $4million in campaign donations . This tops the single best day of any Republican candidate ,and only trails Evita and Obama for the record.
They picked Nov. 5 as the fund drive date because it was Guy Fawkes day . Guy Fawkes tried and failed to off King James I with a terrorist bombing of Parliament . A movie about a dude who fights a fascist government dressed as Guy Fawkes called '"V" for Vendetta' appears to be a popular one with Paul's supporters . Thus the date of the fund raiser.
But Ron Paul is only polling about 5% in national averages . So although he has a very committed base ;do you think it will translate into votes at the primaries ? And if not ;does this make the role of money in politics just a little over-rated ?
I will concede this point in advance. Their enthusiasm is refreshing compared to the lifeless values voters this time around. Even if the Republicans dismiss Paul they had better start paying attention to this potential voting block. I travelled up-state NY over the weekend . Besides all the local candidates placards ,the only Presidential sign I saw from either party was for Ron Paul's . Will they be a footnote in history like the Deaniac ;or a potential block to court ?