Ron Paul and his fans celebrate

Republican presidential contender Ron Paul turned 72 today, but his devoted supporters delivered an early present Saturday, showing up in sufficient numbers to dominate two little-noticed -- and sparsely attended -- straw polls.

At a gathering of the West Alabama Republican Assembly in Tuscaloosa, Paul's people apparently were the only ones who had kept their calendars clear.  He garnered a whopping 81% of the straw poll vote (out of 266 ballots cast).  His showing at a similar contest in New Hampshire's Stafford County was only slightly less impressive: Paul won 73% of the 288 votes.  No other candidate broke into double digits in either competition.

Let's give this to Paul's backers: they're willing to put in the time on behalf of their man.

Paul now turns his attention to his home state -- a straw poll of Texas Republicans is scheduled for Sept. 1 in Fort Worth.  This presents more of a challenge for the anti-establishment candidate; participation is limited to those who were delegates to past state or national GOP conventions, which isn't exactly Paul's constituency.  Still, he's hosting a "Texas Pride" party the night before the vote, with music provided by blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan (brother of the late, legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan).

Score one for Paul on the entertainment front.

-- Don Frederick

 

Comments

[fra59e]

The Republicans are so mired in corruption that Ron Paul really stands out, apparently an honest man. He seems to have brains enough to shun the anti-science obscurantism of the head-in-the-sand candidates who think they can score some cheap votes by pandering to the pre-Darwin frame of mind.

I am a longtime registered Republican, and will vote and work for Ron Paul if the party puts him up as its candidate. On the other hand if they continue wallowing in fundamentalist neo-con folly, my support goes to anybody who has the best chance of clearing them out of Washington.

The Republican Party used to offer America some honest people, like Barry Goldwater. Ron Paul looks like their only chance just now to recover the honor of the GOP, befouled by Abramoff, Cunningham, DeLay, and their ilk.

[chris lawton]

GO RON PAUL! GO RON PAUL! GOD BLESS RON PAUL!
RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2008!
Ron Paul : When in the course of human events...

[Matt, Alabama]

I was in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at the straw poll. There was a speech by a Ron Paul representative that absolutely brought the house down. He was a Southern Baptist preacher with a fire in his belly! The video is on youtube. Search: Ron Paul wins Alabama Straw poll.

[Brent Burk]

Awesome little write-up, which I could attend :). Hopefully he does well in Texas too, some of his supporters has been calling the delegates to tell them about him.

Hopefully they aren't still pro-Bush.

[Michael Maresco]

After looking at all the candidates, I have no coice but to support Dr. Paul. The man is smart and experianced. It seems to me a vote for any other top tier candidate is a vote for endless war and debt.

There truly is Hope for America - Be a part of it

[Doug]

The New Hampshire win was more impressive -- Mike Huckabee and Tom Tancredo appeared in person, along with Ron Paul, and Dr. Paul won going away.