The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Ron Paul's Third Wave

Text Size

Ron Paul's Third Wave

By W. James Antle, III on 1.4.12 @ 12:31AM

Ron Paul led in many December polls of likely Iowa caucus-goers. He was statistically tied for the lead in the last Des Moines Register poll, a solid barometer of the caucus. He led in tonight's entrace polls, before it was found that they exaggerated his support among evangelicals and the percentage of crossover voters. The candidate himself predicted a first or at least second-place showing.

Paul led at various points tonight, particularly in the early returns. But in the end, the antiwar, libertarian-leaning congressman from Texas finished third. Paul lost the expectations battle. Perhaps it was karma for a rude tweet -- promptly deleted -- sent out under Paul's name that mocked Jon Huntsman, who bypassed the caucuses, for his poor showing. The disappointment was evident on Rand Paul's face as his father gave his concession speech.

Yet by almost any measure, Paul has made huge strides in just four years. He more than doubled his Iowa tally from 2008. He brought in a large number of independents, Democrats, and young voters while improving his standing among key Republican demographics. He competed with fully engaged candidates preferred by social conservatives and the Republican establishment, and was competitive with both. And he may still come away with the most delegates.

It's true Paul needed a large crossover vote to compete at Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney's level, which will limit him in the Republican race (ask the 2000 version of John McCain). But these are exactly the kind of voters the GOP has lost in the past six years, some of whom they need to win back. It's also true that there is still a ceiling on Paul's foreign policy views within the GOP, especially as Paul communicates them. But they are less of a liability than they were in the Bush years.

The bottom line is that Paul showed his "secret plan" can actually work, especially caucus states that will receive less attention than Iowa. The big test is whether the volunteers who got clean for Ron can avoid disappointment and keep their eyes on the prize. Unlike those of his rivals, Ron Paul's presidential campaign is more about building a movement for the future than winning the Republican nomination in 2012.

View all comments (8) | Leave a comment

Poly| 1.4.12 @ 12:32AM

Thank you.

Clint| 1.4.12 @ 1:05AM

We Dr.Ron Paul Tea Party Supporters Play All Four Quarters, Don't Leave It In The Locker Room And Pace Our Campaign.

We Helped Get Dr.Ron Paul 21 Percent Of The Vote, We Got Lots Of Campaign Money, Lots Of Organization And We Head To The East Coast To Take On Two Israel Firster BIG GOVERNMENT GOP Frontmen,During A Smaller Government Rebellion.

The Tea Party Rebellion Moves Now, To The East Coast.

Israel Firster Smear Bund Boys Wouldn't Know Real Conservative Foreign Policy If It Punched Them In The Face.

They Oughta Try Reading George Washington's Farewell Address, Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address & The Old Right And Learn Something.

" George Will, "Today, we have a very different kind of foreign policy. It’s called Wilsonian. And the premise of the Bush Doctrine is that America must spread democracy, because our national security depends upon it. And America can spread democracy. It knows how. It can engage in national building. This is conservative or not?"

William F. Buckley, " It’s not at all conservative. It’s anything but conservative. It’s not conservative at all, inasmuch as conservatism doesn’t invite unnecessary challenges. It insists on coming to terms with the world as it is …”

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Heading for The East Coast.

Watch This Short Video.

http://digitaljournal.com/article/316304

JR| 1.4.12 @ 11:29AM

Not everyone who disagrees with Ron Paul's foreign policy is for nation building or spreading democracy. I couldnt care less. I only want to destroy our enemies which Ron Paul seems to think if we just run and hide will disappear.

Clint| 1.4.12 @ 4:51AM

Big Government Ricky Santorum's Record On Voting For Earmarks, Even The Bridge To Nowhere, His Support For The Lobbyist "K-Street Project" , His Tariff Votes, Medicare Prescription Drugs, No Child Left Behind,Etc. Is Gonna Sink Him With Tea Party Patriots.

Social Conservatives Won't Be Able To Carry Santorum ,The Big Government Statist.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To The East Coast.

Jack in Wi.| 1.4.12 @ 7:12AM

nothing more to say. We finally have an honest analysis here.

Marco2| 1.4.12 @ 9:25AM

The Hitler movement started small, too. They, at least, had a youthful, charismatic leader instead of a seedy old dweeb in an ill-fitting suit. But the idea that these Stormfront creeps are openly infesting the gatherings of the party of Lincoln and Reagan should give us pause. Is our national collapse so imminent, or is it time for a can of Raid?

steve in ohio| 1.4.12 @ 9:51AM

If I were Romney, I'd be sucking up to Rand Paul. It would be a winning combination and build the party like the young Goldwater supporters did so in the 60's. Rand makes so much more sense than hyper hawk Marco Rubio.

Tom| 1.4.12 @ 5:06PM

Rather than a "Third Wave", Herr Doktor Nutjob's performance in the 2012 Iowa caucuses will be looked back upon as the high water mark of Paultardianism.