Breaking News: A Ron Paul surge in Nevada

Boy, oh, boy! Hidden behind all the hoopla, headlines and the Nevada caucus victories of Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton is one little-noticed but stunning political development and number:

Ron Paul, the one-time Libertarian candidate and 10-term Republican congressman from Texas, was in second place. That's right, Second Place. The 72-year-old ob-gyn who's always on the end of the line at GOP debates or barred altogether, was running ahead of John McCain, Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, in fact, ahead of....

all other Republicans except Romney, who easily captured his second state in a week after Michigan.

Now, Romney and Paul were basically the only Republicans who actively campaigned and advertised in the desert state. But a win is a win. And second place is second place. When Romney won Wyoming a couple of weeks ago, Paul won zero there.

In Iowa, Paul also beat Giuliani and he topped Thompson in New Hampshire, where Paul was excluded from the Fox News debate, which only energized his fervent followers. His jump in GOP election standings comes despite recent reports about a long series of newsletters from the 1990s carrying Paul's name and numerous racist and anti-Semitic remarks. Paul has denied writing them and denounced their contents.

Thanks to those passionate and tireless supporters, Paul, the only Republican to oppose the Iraq war and favor significant dismantling of the federal government, won about 10% of the vote in Iowa and 8% in New Hampshire, coming in just behind the former New York mayor in the Granite state.

But in Nevada today with a poor Republican turnout of less than half the Democrats (just under 45,000 vs 115,000) and with 99.7% of the precincts reporting, Romney had 22,644 votes, or 51%. Paul had about a quarter of that, 14%, or 6,084 votes.

Paul built a slow steady lead of about 400 votes over the veteran Arizona senator's 5,648 total.

Huckabee sneaked past Thompson into fourth place with 8%, or 3,613 votes, a tiny vote lead over the former Tennessee senator, who had 3,518. Both had 8%. Giuliani, who's counting on a late-state surge to salvage his one-time now-faded national front-runner status, had only 4% of the Nevada Republican vote with 1,910 ballots. And California's retiring Congressman Duncan Hunter was last again with 2% or 890 votes.

Now, of course, comes tonight's South Carolina primary vote results where Paul needs to be a bit more realistic perhaps. He's got three campaign offices there and has advertised and campaigned actively. But McCain is well-known there, has been ahead in polls, relying heavily on his strong support in the state's large active and retired military population.

And, as in Iowa where he won the caucuses, Huckabee is counting on another large turnout among South Carolina Christian evangelicals. Polls showed the Baptist preacher narrowing McCain's lead in recent days and Thompson, the former senator who's got the most riding on a strong South Carolina showing to invigorate his sagging campaign, also gaining some.

It was reported to be snowing heavily in the state's Piedmont region, where the evangelicals are concentrated, and that could depress turnout, while McCain's coastal territory was getting some cold rain. Now, whose crowd gets more depressed? And can Thompson make a strong enough showing to stay in the race? He planned to return home to ponder the future with no campaign activities planned for coming days.

The results tonight will show whether Ron Paul's fine morning and afternoon turn into a nice all-around day or not. Either way, he was likely the top GOP fundraiser in the fourth quarter, raising nearly $20 million, and his website reports gathering in another $1.34 million so far this month. So while Giuliani stopped paying his top staff this month, Paul is likely to linger long.

Paul's crowd plans another "money bomb" on Monday when thousands will deliver new donations on the same day. One previous time they did this, the Paul campaign set a new one-day online record of $6 million.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Duck Soup]

RP has tapped into something. People want the truth. They are tired of old style politics. Too bad RP is not viable. Obama, however, is.

What about Clinton? What does Clinton's outrageous robocall in Nevada say about her? It is not just an isolated incident. Want to make a difference RP supporters? Want to change politics. Want to make your vote actually COUNT towards someone who wants change and can actually get elected President?

Would love to hear your POV and hear your vote in who will bring more change to America - Clinton or Obama.

[Jed Merrill, ConservativeRepublicans.com]

Congrats to Dr. Paul on a thrilling second place finish. I am personally a Mitt fan, and pleased to see McCain fall to third place in this contest, especially given that Ron Paul actually does have some positive things to say and would govern more conservatively than McCain.

[Tara]

Thank you for writing this article about Ron Paul!

[David Cisco]

Who is Mitt Romney?

[charlie]

Thanks for the article Andrew!

I wonder what other lame excuses the MSM is going to come up with now to exclude him from future debates. Ideas, anyone?

[JP]

Motivating news--libertarianism is indeed alive and well in the West.

This naval officer will be marching with Dr. Paul for the Martin Luther King money bomb!

[Jamie]

In an honest election held in an honest culture and country, an honest man like Ron Paul would already be president.

[david from texas]

Thank you Andrew Malcolm for the article about Ron Paul!

I heard you the other day on XM radio (POTUS 08), and enjoy listening to and reading your perspective.

Your article today is an excellent analysis of what happened today. Your work is a breath of fresh air, and reflects REAL journalism, unlike the garbage that comes down the pike in the MSM.

(Well, thanks for your kind words. Appreciate you visiting us and taking time to leave a comment. Hope you'll come back often and tell your friends about Top of the Ticket.)

[Bob Pylant]

GO RON GO!!!! Slowly but surely Ron Paul is getting his message out and rising in the polls.... People are waking up the blacklisting of Ron Paul by Fox, CNN and MSNBC - now THIS VERY DAY - those same networks are are only posting the Winner... why?? Ron Paul won second naturally... When he placed fourth in Michigan they only reported first, second, and third... (RON PAUL) WAS in fourth by only a few votes....
This is BLATANT MEDIA BLACK-LISTING and I thank Los Angelas Times for reporting a good article on a candidate who wants to reduce the government, get rid of the Patriot Act (which is in direct violation of the bill of rights), get us out of Iraq and all the OTHER countries who dont need us - Stop funding Israel AND THE opposing Arab countries (i.e. funding both sides) etc. etc. etc..
GO RON GO

[Dan]

Thanks for this blog. I see your blog once in a while and you have been for the most part objective. Although Ron Paul Supporters can sometimes come off a bit difficult to deal with, you have to understand frustration is the main reason behind it.
Thanks anyway,

(Well, not you've tried us, hope you'll come back more often and spread the word among your pals. We try to be entertaining and enlightening and sometimes provocative.)

[Fabian]

This is why we need to keep our fervor and focus! Five months ago, NOBODY gave us a chance in hell to place second in any state, look at what happened today!

[Tess]

Ron Paul for the Win! Ron Paul has staying power, supporters, and bank to win this. Thank you for noticing Mr. Malcolm, and actually reporting this victory for Ron Paul and his message. Just wait for the California Primary, the Ron Paul supporters will be out in great numbers.
http://ronpaul2008.com

[Lorenz]

Seriously - I love you guys

(Well, we love regulars like you too. Spread the word.)

[TEFLON RON]

Cream, the cream always rises. Slowly but surely the message is spreading.

[Billy]

Once again, Andrew Malcolm is one of the only people keeping an eye on the real story here. I don't think many people have realized that if the Republican Primary continues as it has, there will be a brokered convention in Minneapolis with Dr. Paul as the kingmaker. I think he'll have some demands (in writing) before he forks over his delegates.

And why is Giuliani still being interviewed by major media? Didn't he spend somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 million for this string of 'bottom tier' finishes? What a joke.

[Sam]

Thank you for giving Ron Paul fair coverage.

(You're welcome. But it's our job. Hope you'll return often and spread the word about this spot.)

[Jess]

"One previous time they did this, the Paul campaign set a new one-day online record of $6 million."
more accurately, That is the record for one-day fund raising ever had, not just on-line.

(Well, to be fair, I think the Jerry Lewis Telethon would argue with that.)

[Robin Dicken]

I'm 6 foot 220 pound male heterosexual. Will you marry me Andrew? Go Ron Paul!!!

(I think I'll pass but thanks for reading us and making my day with your comment. Spread the word about this blog pls.)

[patty]

Wow am I the first to post a comment?!!!

Heartfelt thanks, Andrew, for giving Ron Paul the attention he deserves. You KNOW how much we appreciate it!!! See you again Monday after the next money bomb.

[InInkPlease]

Andrew you throw us another bone. I'll take it but sadly this is a blog. And only smart people ;) read blogs.

[Robin Dicken]

I'm 6 foot 220 pound male heterosexual. Will you marry me Andrew? Go Ron Paul!!!!

[Charles Bentley]

Ron Paul is my political hero. I would do anything for him. A True Hope For America and Humanity!
He has my support forever and I'm 27 years old!

[Randy Jones]

Andrew - Wow, thank you for the wonderful piece! If I still lived in So Cal, I'd have to subscribe to the LA Times (or at least run out and buy a handful of papers) in appreciation!

Randy Jones
Reno/Tahoe, NV

(Well, all you have to do now is return here often and readn and leave Comments. and hopefully tell your friends to visit too. We appreciate your visits and thoughtful comments.)

[E Philipp]

Ron Paul has done well, not top of the pile spectacular, but well in every State so far. I see this as quite a show of support from a very diverse demographic. It will be interesting to see how SC plays out this evening. So far I think Paul looks like a candidate with National support, isn't that what it takes to win in the general election? Just a thought...

[Albert Meyer]

Thanks Andrew! Ron Paul will not go away. If he had gotten his fair share of media attention, he would have been much higher in the polls and considered as a viable candidate. (He is viable, regardless of the media's insinuations.) Instead he had to fight his way through the media fog for some attention. The GOP is doomed. Their marginalization of Dr. Paul will cost them dearly in November. If Ron Paul is not the nominee, and he does not run as an independent, his supporters will vote for him as a write-in, but they will not repay the GOP's injustices with kindness. We will not forget! Some us, longtime GOP voters, will vote for the Democratic candidate to express our disgust at the GOP's betrayal of our interests. Until then we will continue the fight for our hero, the best man to run for the White House since the times of the Founding Fathers.