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

[Paul]

Thanks for the kind words, Andrew!

[chordchaser]

This was a fair article on Ron Paul. Thank you for writing it.

Now, take a quick look at the New York Times "Election Guide 2008" page.

I see Giuliani. I see Thompson. But no Ron Paul. The MSM is nothing more than one big public relations firm for the status quo, and we should expect nothing more or less from them. The Internet has allowed an honest man to become a contender, and we better take full advantage of it because it is not going to survive another fascist/socialist regime.

From the NY Times yesterday: "American officials say they fear that the next generation of terrorist attacks could be carried out not by militants trained in Al Qaeda camps but by fighters influenced by radical texts posted online."

(If you're so angry at them, don't go there. Stop giving them those valuable clicks. Just go where you can get the news you want. If it's here, welcome.)

[ruthelator]

Hey Duck Soup,

Pleased you are impressed with Ron Paul. Just know that he IS viable, more than rooky Obama. He offers REAL change, not smooth, empty rhetoric. Keep watching, listening, and reading REAL news (bypass MSM). We cant afford to elect another smooth talking power hungry politician who doesn't truely have US regular American people's best interest in heart. Beware of overly crafted image and uninformed rhetoric. Our freedom, our dollar, our future, our national security and sovereignty are at stake.

[Eric Gaul]

Just the other day Carl Cameron asked if he was electiable......I think he got his answer. Thank you for your truely unbiased reporting!!!

[Doom]

I'm gonna max out the last 700 I can give to Ron Paul on monday. I hope everyone follows suit.

[C.P.B]

THANK YOU!
Thanks for being someone who notices Ron Paul in the media.
Even if some of the previous articles were a bit defeatist I'm so glad someone other that regular people mentions Ron Paul.
I'm trilled about Nevada, and wondering why we didn't do better in South Carolina, it almost doesn't seem right.
I don't agree that he "always" comes last, because he has beaten Guilliani consistently and Fred Thompson too, and now Huckabee... one by one are falling by their own weight and Ron Paul is rising, because nobody can bring him down even with their false accusations.
Ron Paul is a true Hero!
Gotta love him!!!
Keep spreading the word...pleazzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeee???????
)))))HUG(((((

[Nathan N'Diaye]

WAY TO GO LA TIMES...finally, someone who pays attention to the true REVOLUTION happening in our nation! Keep up the good work and keep giving this nation the truth about America's man!

[David]

John McCain will likely not get the nomination. With his economics views.
I still hope for Ron Paul. He is truly a patriot whom would fight for America, not the rest of the world.

[Angelo Bellinelli]

Ottimo articolo, grazie los angels times!

In Italia sosteniamo RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pat]

I greatly admire the integrity that Ron Paul has shown in the United States Congress over the last two decades. He is exactly what we need now, someone who is no stranger to Washington's politics, but someone who has never let party and party politics come before principle when it comes to issues of liberty and responsible government.

But I have no delusions that my vote actually matters anymore. We do not have free and fair elections in the United States of America, at least for high office. The party machines have created a system of power sharing between the parties, where only candidates that seek to loot the treasury in order to feed their party machines are allowed to be considered. And where popular views can be suppressed by simple electioneering. At least a third of America is without any representation and without a viable way to put candidates on the ballot without splitting the vote.

As long as we have a least worst system, then we will have least worst candidates...

At least a vote for Ron Paul will send a message that there are still people out here willing to fight for freedom in America.

[Kris]

To those that say Ron Paul's policies will be a disaster..I agree. They will be a disaster to those feeding off our taxes. It's not just the million useless federal departments, but also those cronie corporations that are getting the fat contracts and subsidies and regulations that restrict their competition. It WILL be a disaster for them, but it will be liberty for the taxpayers and for free enterprise. Expose the rats!

[dom]

LA TIMES is the best. Ron Paul hope for America.

[lori from san diego]

Thank God. Seriously. Dr. Paul really needed this win to show the United States that he really is securing votes and capturing the attention of voting individuals. Thanks to Andrew, once again glad to read his blogs.

students for ron paul
san diego state university

[Michael Handelman]

It is time the sheople of this country wake up and elect our best hope for this country RON PAUL. The government media complex must learn it does not have the control... The people do!

[Torqued]

Shame on you America.

And Shame on you ABC-Haliburton-John McCain!

God have mercy on your soul.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3030987572930384032

100 more years.

I still love you McCain....My uncle died, you just cried...

Even though your a waste of air waves.

I Love your combant spirit.

Liar.

[Lindy]

Now this is journalism as it should be, straight down the line - Thank you Andrew for leading with this honest example.

I am a South African and from my perspective, Dr. Ron Paul is also leading by good example for he always speaks the truth, and he is prepared to step out of the circle by giving people the reality check they are looking for, which is much needed in this world of ours that is becomming increasingly chaotic.

If I were an American I would vote for Ron Paul.

[Peter]

Hey Andrew, why don't you invite the Old Doc for an interview? He'll be coming throught town soon.

Come on Andrew. You know you'd like to meet him.

Thankyou friend. Thankyou for standing up us!

Peter

[Thomas Braun]

Andrew--I know you're probably trying to be fair-minded about your Ron Paul coverage but please don't try to suggest that your peers are as committed to such discretion. If you want to see what I and many other Ron Paul fans see as a decided bias AGAINST Ron Paul--one simple example can be seen right within your own company web site. Please look at the following link http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/?vote34617362=1 . You'll see a section labeled "Snapshots from the trail" which showcases pics of all the remaining republicans in the field but Ron Paul is yet again curiously missing.

I know the typical spin by media insiders is to seem aghast at the contention that there's some deceit occurring with respect to their Ron Paul coverage. If you want to toe this line, please explain to your thousands of newfound fans why your co-workers see fit to exclude Ron Paul.

[Hank]

Thanks for writing about ron paul. There is no doubt that ron paul did not write those newletters so please make that clear. Could you write an article that differentiates between Obama's issues and Clinton on the issues because I am not sure what the difference is?
Either way RON PAUL 2008----

[Edwin]

Thank you for the piece about Ron Paul. I wish that he would recieve as much attention as all the other candidates. I think this would greatly affect people's perceptions about his viability.
The truth is, I think Dr. Paul is the only Republican who could possibly beat any of the Democratic frontrunners. In this race I feel that is an important thing.
I have occasionally voted for Democrats in the past, when I foolishly believed them to be the lesser of two evils. But in this race, none of the Democrats, besides Dennis Kucinich, represent anything truly different than the current president, or the one before for that matter.
Only Dr. Paul is coming to the table with realistic discourse about our current situation and the changes we need to make as a people in order to deal realistically with our issues.
For the good of our country and the sake of our freedom, I urge you to investigate Dr. Ron Paul and what he stands for at www.RonPaul2008.com. Then please support him and vote for him.
Thank You.

[greg]

Andrew - thank you for your journalistic integrity and continuing to cover the news concerning Ron Paul instead of following along with the charade we see on the establishment propaganda networks - kind of gives me hope for the LA Times after all these years!

thanks again.

[Paul B]

The media can NOT keep down the will of the American people. Ron Paul will still be standing in the end and his message of TRUTH will be heard. GO RON. This country needs you for president NOW!

[Dale]

This is a great story and I am absolutely thrilled that my man, Ron took silver. But if you want a really juicy story, how about reporting on the almost comlete media blackout on the Doctor that has cost him really great results in Iowa, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Michigan and South Carolina. I watched the primary unfolding yesterday and, even when it was clear that Ron Paul was in 2nd place, the networks acted as if he didn't exist. I won't even talk about Fox, but CNN interviewed everybody except Dr Paul when the caucus closed -- that includes Giuliani 4 times!
There's a big story here, Andrew, and a fraud that's being perpetrated against the American people. You're a reporter. Report it!

[Enlighten Ment]

Hi Duck Soup,

Keep in mind that Obama voted for the Patriot Act, funding of the war, and would not commit to end the war till 2013.
(Still I agree Obama is better than warmonger Hillary)

Most people do not fully realize the dangers of the Patriot Act:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SU0zuUzrSg

Learn How to End the Iraq War Now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLcUS9c9Kbo

Join the Revolution - Vote Ron Paul!

Peace,
Enlighten Ment

[Tom Jefferson]

"Total Media Blackout on Ron Paul."

Has anyone noticed the "Total Media Blackout" on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well? The last election turned out to be a referendum on war. The people voted overwhelmingly against it. (Nothing changed after the election by the way.) So ... let's just sweep that pesky issue ... Hey!!! Look over here! The market is crashing!!! Your IRA is melting. You're going to be living on dog food with no heat or electricity.

Thanks, Andrew! You win the "Freedom of the Press" award for the week!

[james]

There is not one of you that would vote for any other candidate after listening to Dr Paul. You all voted last time and you voted for Bush and put a crook and lyier in the white house, hope you haven't lost your job or your house.

Your voting in ignorance is ruining our country. Oh one guy says I'm for Mitt, like a child. Would that be Mitt over there at his sntuary mansion where Illeagle Mexicans are working on his property.

Mccain is a Bush kiss ass.
Clinton is a robotic lyier and crook and when she losses she cries, wow what a president that would make, oh ya she is a lawer by the way so she cant be trusted.
Gulianni is a crook and his security company is sucking Millons off the war and is embedded with tyrant governments.

Huckabee, he is lying and trying to use Religion to win, is that what we really want, someone who uses our religion for personal gain, if he will do that, he will do much worse, remember Bush won that way as well.

Obama is someone who we could use in the white house as well, we dont need anymore rich old men as president. It is time for a young person to lead this country.

America you better vote informed this time, we have to much at stake this time and with another 30 to 40 Millon jobs being outsourced and the country being flooded with Illegal Mexicans, you better hope your job is not one that leaves or your employer boots your for Mexican slave labor.

You have one shot to get it right.
Vote informed and read the Candidates Voting Record.

Ron Paul has the best Voting Record Bar None, look it up and red it.

Vote informed

[James Mason]

As far as the Hillary /Obama situation one of the above posters mentioned; listening to the MSM, it is easy to get the impression Obama is anti-war and all about change. However, the truth is, Obama will not take a pre-emptive first strike against Iran off of the table. Obama has also stated that he would approve of air strikes within the borders of Pakistan, a country which does actually posess a nuclear weapon.
The Democrats promise to "end the war in Iraq," but the truth is, what we will get is an occupation of Iraq, still squandering billions of dollars and putting our troops in harms way - Same thing different name. Then with Iran still being on the table...
Clinton is no different. I see her and Obama as almost the same candidate.
The truth is, we will support neither any of the Republicans or the Democrats if Paul does not get the nomination - We will likely find a new party.

[politico2]

To the blogger who compared Ron Paul to Lincoln. Please inform yourself. Lincoln (although from much hyped 'humble origins' was the Corporation of the Day's (the railroads) man. He got us into the war (The War Between the States) that cost more American lives than any other. And kept us in the war, ignoring Peace Committees from The South seeking to end the hostilities. He was, up to that time, the most hated President of the US and was referred to as "The Widowmaker" throughout the Northern States. I fail to see the correlation between Lincoln and Ron Paul, a true statesman who opposes war and refuses to be bought out by the Coporatocracy.

[gloria from missouri]

I just want to echo Malcolm's response to a contributor...

"If you're so angry at them, don't go there. Stop giving them those valuable clicks."

That is the reason I will NOT click on any of the links given in these comments that refer to websites who do not give serious consideration to Dr. Paul's campaign! PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THOSE LINKS!!!!

[Lord Denton]

please , please america...WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE... VOTE RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT... ! At least ... VICE PRESIDENT...he is probably the most intelligent perosn ive seen come out of americ afor a long, long time...

time is short.. dont shoot yourselves in the foot and let mccain be the repubilcan candidte or romney... the only other possibility is huckabee...

on the democrate side... obama - clinton... well.. not much of a choice really... both spell trouble...

[Polteia]

Ron Paul -- the Little Engine that Could!

[Ruth]

Ron Paul supporters and all Americans can be proud of his Neveda outcome. Did anyone else realize that Ron Paul pulled in more votes than Mrs. Clinton? We must not let the Clinton's dream become another Clinton national nightmare. Spread the word regarding Ron Paul and help to get out the vote for him. This is the last chance for Ron Paul to be elected our President. In four years the media will say that his age will be a factor if he were to run again. The time is NOW!!!!

[John K]

Now that's professional journalism. An excellent, well researched, well written, and unbiased article. Kudos.

[TJF]

The more people who learn about our broken monetary policy that currently only serves the interests of big banks the more people who will be RP supporters. Read the Creature from Jekyll Island if you haven't.

[bjh]

Congratulations Ron Paul on your impressive performance in this poll. If you continue on this path, enough people will eventually hear you and give them a chance to vote for someone that sticks to the Constitution and make changes to some bad policy. I'm still watching and listening to you to make sure that you stay true to your cause. I also would like to know how you really stand with God and the truth about 9/11, which you seem to avoid. Maybe someday you will start talking about it when congress begins the impeachment process of the leaders responsible for it. There are millions of people all over the world waiting for one of you to stand up for the truth. Will you be that person?

[bmid2u]

Those few who posted negative remarks about Ron Paul’s campaign packing it up never read the US Constitution that he defends. Manual labor was required to build this country as well as courage to stand up to those who oppressed the building on our nation where we are not subjects of a king or slaves to those who would use us if we continue to allow it to happen. The American people have been manipulated by slick talk for too long from politicians whose pockets are lined with commitments to others who would control us if they get their way. This Presidential election there is only one Statesman in this race and his message, if listened with an open mind will ring clear in your ears.

If Dr. Paul wins the Republican nomination or not his name will be written in by his supporters because his message is clear and his voting record and his integrity support him. The American people need to wake up and hear the truth and finally it was the LA Times that gave Dr. Paul the respect he has more than earned from all his years and voting record in the US Congress. For any Presidential candidate to snicker or laugh at Dr. Paul when he is answering a question on a debate just shows how little that candidate understand or give a damm about the US Constitution each and every sworn in Senator and Congressman and the President swear to uphold and defend. So before you cast your vote go to UTube and listen to what Ron Paul says on his many interviews. Start with the recent one that shows the Fox footage that was excluded from the public when Ron Paul challenged the Republican Party about not wanting him because of what he stands for. It will open you eyes.

[leon]

thank you L.A.times for telling the truth about Ron Paul / VOTE RON PAUL PRESEDENT UNITED STATES// GO RON PAUL

[Edward Reischmann]

I am in the market for a news source.

Thank you for your article recognizing Ron Paul. It encourages me to lean towards the LATimes, but LAT still has some more work to do in order to win this consumer's business.

I am monitoring all of the corporate media outlets coverage, or lack there of, of Ron Paul and using this as my litmus test in determining their political bias.

I want information on this Ron Paul phenomena, and when I perform a search on a 'news' website(not LAT) and all it brings up is four or five hits, mainly about Bunnies for Ron Paul, their reliability and credibility as a news outlet is trashed.

As a consumer, all I can do is support the advertisers of unbiased sources and boycott the advertisers of the biased ones.

(Well, you have many choices on the internet now. We're glad you found us, like thousands of new readers every day, the stats show. We are a bit different, blogging longer days, on unpredictable topics and with some attitude that you can agree or disagree with right here in the comments section so we have a dialogue. That's what this is all about. Do you get personal answers like this on other blogs? So hope you keep coming back here and maybe even spread the word to your friends that we're here. Thanks again.)

[C.W.DREW]

GOOD FOR YOU ANDREW FINALLY A REPORTER THAT REPORTS THE NEWS . THE OTHER NEWS MEDIA ARE SO STATUS QUO ITS TIME FOR AMERICA TO WAKE UP AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT . FOR AMERICA . VOTE RON PAUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Glad to have you here. Spread the word.)

[Nancy Silver]

Thank you for writing about Dr. Paul. He is such a nice man. I think that it is time for us to see his goodness and welcome a peaceful leader that doesn't talk bad of others. His mother would be proud. I plan on being at his Martin Luther King March on Jan 21 to give him $5 for his campaign.

[Ernie Gomez]

It is a sad day in America when a candidate who is running on a platform of returning our country to constitutional government is considered "radical' or revolutionary. Apparently many of us have found happiness in slavery.All the other candidates have pledged our country to endless war and the continued destruction of our rights.If things don't change quickly, we will lose what's left of our national sovereignty,and sink to third world status. Please wake up.Support Ron Paul!

[Marie]

You guys rock! Thank you for consistantly having the courage to report fair and balanced coverage. I personally don't care what you write about Ron Paul, as long as it is the TRUTH and that you continue to write about him! Dr. Paul is a man of integrity and transparency; he doesn't seem to have any "skeletons in his closet" like the rest of the GOP bunch or Dems for that matter. WE THE PEOPLE need to demand TRANSPARENCY in all aspects of governement, including our flawed elections process!

Here is proof that Ron Paul will be around for the long haul.
He is one SHREWD DUDE!
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/FRONTPAGE/801050301

[Denice]

I am a 36yr old Christian housewife and I support Ron Paul and once I learned what he stood for, I knew I would vote for nobody else. GO RON PAUL!!! Thanks so much for the coverage!

[AJ Arizona]

Thanks for writing about Ron Paul. The mass media seems to always keep him shut out. How is Ron Paul not a viable candidate? Because your tv tells you that he is not? I urge people to go to Ron Paul's website and see his message. Its your vote not the medias. I hope this monday Ron Paul raises another 6 million maye that will wake more people up to his message!

[Brian]

Hey Andrew,

Thanks for the objective article. It's frustrating for myself as an educated student in his mid twenties to filter through all the garbage articles on Ron Paul and see their subjective intentions and know a lot of people won't be able to critically think and realize the truth for themselves. To me all the other articles are like Bush's post-9/11 speech where he used key words to imply that Iraq was in someway connected to 9/11 to garner national support to goto war and people bought into it. If this piece was on that subject at that time it would be the only one telling the people the truth, that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and if there were more like it maybe we would have never made the mistake of going into Iraq. Fair and honest reporting, even though it may get writers in trouble with their bosses and the people who write the checks now are what protects this nations freedom to choose. So when the country gets their heads on straight people will be able to truly appreciate the objective reporting of yours and few others on politics in times like this. Thanks Andrew. I live in Mass but my sister and cousin live in LA so I just talked to both of them on the phone and told them about you.

(Thanks for spreading the word. Hope others do too. Appreciate that very much. The bigger our readership gets the louder the message that this kind of journalism is desired.)

[AC]

Thanks for this article, Mr. Malcolm. This is exciting news.

SC voter for Ron Paul 2008!

[Doug Ward]

Andrew;

Thanks for your articles, they are well done. Ron Paul is the only candidate who will bring MEANINGFUL change to our destructive foreign policy. I hope this means the L.A.Times will include him in the Jan 31 debate.

(Jan. 31 is the Democratic debate. Jan. 30 is Republican. That would be something wouldn't it to have Dr. Paul in with Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama.))

[Anna]

Thanks Andrew for the honest and balanced reporting -- you are so rare in the mainstream media these days.

Sam Zell, committed friend and high power doner to AIPAC, just bought the L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune. Let's see how reporting changes. A year from now, I wouldn't be surprised if it looked like other mainstream media conglomerate 'friends of AIPAC' who want to keep our tax dollars ($1.6 Trillion since '72) and our children (Iraq) enslaved to the benefit of Israel.

(Actually, the Tribune Co. just went private. Zell owns or could end up with 40%. The employees own the other shares through a complex financial plan. To be honest, I haven't a clue what his politics are. But since we are equal opportunity offenders, if he reads this, he'll always see some things he agrees with and others he doesn't. But as a very successful businessman, I suspect he'd be most impressed and happy with the rapid growth of the audience finding its way to this unpredictable blog. Thanks for reading--and writing.)

[W. Gary Johnson, New York, NY]

This morning I woke up to turn on the radio, and ABC news reported that Romney won Nevada without even mentioning who came in second. There has been a virtual MSM media blackout on Ron Paul since the NH primary. Cable networks still cover him, especially CNN, but to the broadcast networks, Congressman Ron Paul is practically invisible.

[Sam]

Thank you LA Times. Can someone please write an article now looking at the conspiracy of silence in the Mainstream Media surrounding Ron Paul's growing popularity?