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

[bkusz]

Nevada and Las Vegas best represents capitalism and social tolerance which seems to be a underlying Paul message. Now had Paul been a Mormon with a few more million, he would have pulled a 1st.

[Kevin Cain]

Andrew,
A very enjoyable article that proved to be the best news I have had all day. I spent the afternoon canvassing my neighborhood for Dr. Paul without much success. It will be interesting to see how it plays out once other "top tier" contenders drop out and he continues to campaign for the GOP nomination. At that point the playing field will be leveled.
This is the first primary that I have participated in and regardless of the outcome of Dr. Paul's campaign, my eyes have been opened to the horror that is our financial future as a country. There are the seeds of a revolution being sown with more common men and women joining our ranks everyday.
The common paraphrase of Admiral Farragut comes to mind who, upon entering Mobile Bay in August of 1864 exclaimed, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!"

[t quigly]

Andrew: Ron Paul's "...fourth quarter, raising nearly $20 million, and his website reports gathering in another $1.34 million so far this month."

And the 'Free At Last' moneybomb on Monday, 1/21 - Dr. Martin Luther King holiday, '
And the 'Ron Paul Tax Free Money Bomb!' on 4/17[?] when Ron Paul supporters donate their alleged $600 Duuuhbya tax refund to the Ron Paul campaign [see the Ron Paul Waroom, 'President Bush To Donate Millions To Paul Campaign' posting].

Ron Paul for the long haul !!
The times they are a changin'

[josh]

why cant we win we always come in 2nd but im sure we will win california and VA anyway

[D. M. Radtke]

Thank you Andrew
At last an honest reporter covering an honest man in the race!

[Rob]

Andrew,

I don't know what to think of you, at the moment...Is your recent change of heart concerning your coverage of RP...more "if you can't beat 'em, then join 'em." Or are you just "playing" all of us Paulites out there like the Pied Piper, as you sit back and watch our mood swings with your every article?

Exactly what are your intentions Sir? !

But not to knock you too hard, I thank you for the honest reporting, very hard to find these days, as you know....

So Go Ron Paul
and GO Andrew Malcolm, thank you

(Just doing our job, Rob. Telling the truth in our way and sometimes you like it and sometimes you don't. But this forum is always open to comment one way or the other. Thanks for reading and hope you spread the word about us.)

[John C. Randolph]

"Who is Mitt Romney?"

He's an empty-suit venture capitalist who pretends to be able to run a business.

-jcr

[letma]

Andrew admit it you have seen the light.. haven't you?

Its OK. Freedom is good. There is nothing wrong with understanding the importance of the Ron Paul candidacy and you are a better journalist for it.

Feels good doesn't it?

[Mike]

Wake up America the Revolution is here! Smaller government, less war, more money in our pocket, better education, all of this can be yours for the low low price of one vote. Or, you can keep on buying into the lies and broken promise's of the other phony candidate's who are actually nothing more than salesmen. Ron Paul is the ONLY genuine candidate who is really for the people!

Thanks for the article.

[Mike]

Overall, Ron Paul is in fourth... http://truthalert.net/Republican%20Presidential%20Candidate%20Rankings.htm

Thompson and Giuliani wish they were doing as well.

[Jason]

this country needs Ron Paul. When will the voters across the country wake up and stop listening to candidates who talk about change when someone like Ron Paul will make changes. He needs our help in making people know who the right choice is, so please spread the word.

[Milton Eisenbies]

Thanks for reporting RP results.. Go RP!!!!!

[david loftis]

Mr. Malcolm,
thanks so must for this Ron Paul story! Its about time he gets some press! Clearly people in general are some ill informed on whats actually going on in this country...very sad indeed. They get taken in by catch pharses, rallying around the flag ( hitler used this one), ignoring all that the corporatocracy as done over the past 50 yrs. and beyond. How many elected officials in other countries has the cia killed because they wouldn't give away their countries resources? Not to mention the civilians killed, ie, panama ( 2-3 thousand) to get one man for not going back on the canal treaty... that we came up with!totally illegal invasion of a country, to get a guy breaking U.S. laws... in his country! On and on!!! educate yourself people then vote... for4 Ron Paul!!

[NFaye]

I am celebrating Romney's solid wins in Nevada and Wyoming and Michigan. He is an awesome candidate who has solid support all across the west! Here are a few reasons I think Romney is the best candidate: Romney has the economic expertise we need. He has turned failing companies into productive, profitable businesses. Romney knows how to create and hold jobs! He has a history of asking the right questions, listening intently, analyzing and evaluating carefully, and LEADING in strength. Romney will bring new vision, fresh voices, robust energy, and efficiency to Washington. Romney will bring integrity, respect, and dignity to the office of President.
Romney is a family man of high standards who has personally lived conservative social values all his life. He is absolutely trustworthy. An intelligent vote is a vote for Romney!

[resimc]

I wish if the rest of the country can ee what the 13& of nevada voters (who vote for Ron Paul) see.
He is a man of honour, integrity.
We would like the media to report more on him.
Thanx for the writer of his article.
Go Ron Paul.

[Dan]

Andrew Malcolm - true patriot or god among journalists?

[Jeremy]

I think L.A. Times has got to be the most objective voice I've heard throughout this entire caucus. Huge props for not shutting out the underdog...America loves an underdog!

[craig seganti]

Yeah, but we Paul supporters are not familiar with reporters 'just doing their job'.

[Travis]

Great article. I think Ron Paul is going to do really well here in California. I was watching ABC News' coverage of the Nevada caucus. The only time they really talked about Ron Paul was when they interviewed some prostitutes who supported him. These professional journalists are professional smear artists. What a joke.

[Thomas Braun]

Great JOB all you Ron Paul LOVERS!!! KEEP IT UP! Now is the time to SHAKE THIS LAND!!!

Oh and Andrew Malcolm as Ron Paul's vice president is a ticket we can all be proud of!!

Thanks LA TIMES!

RUN RON RUN!!!!

[Gena]

Good going, Ron Paul!

To 'Manual Labor': We might be sounding like whiners to you, but we have our reasons! We are not making this up! The media really *IS* censoring him as much as they can (get away with)!!

Just LOOK!:

http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/index.html

That pisses me off!! >>:((
What Bull!!

[Bob]

I for one will be calling the headquarters of the msm outlets numerous times on monday to calmly inform them of how to pronounce RON PAUL.

[Andrew]

Thanks for the reminder that there are still some Republicans left who oppose the war and favor protecting civil liberties. I personally left the party (former YR State Treasurer) and became a Libertarian (big "L") when the religious right took over. But Dr. Paul helps me believe that all is not lost for the GOP.

[Claus Nielsen]

Nice article, keep it up
(maybe even do more, remember there was a time when 2 men
with a typewriter made a big difference in America
- not anymore, other vice Bush would have been chased out of office long ago)

Anyway, - I'm from Denmark,
and I can't begin to tell you how much hope, this revolution is giving me..
The first time I heard Ron Paul speak, I was choked!
I mean his honesty, is like a silent scream,
why can't every American hear it - and see that he's special...

As I said I'm from Denmark, one of they few countries that was "permitted"
to vote on the European union, and we rejected it..
The government chanced the wording a little, had a new referendum
and it passed, but whit out the adoption of the Euro..
Now they are more desperate and are pushing it again,
whit out an referendum, and no one objects.. we to are also failing asleep..
So please, help us wake up!

Take Ron Paul to the white house, chase they owners of the federal reserve into the sea
- they are European anyway (but not welcome),
shut down they North American Union, burn the National ID Card,
stop torture, stop the war on drugs, stop the fear and warmongering,
end the war, and prevent an unjust war in Iran, but most of all,
go get your rights back, all of them...
And you may ones again become they moral leaders of the world...

[Ty - Colorado Springs, Co.]

Mr. Malcolm,

I'd like to thank you for what has to be the first, accurate and unbiased article I've read concerning Congressman Ron Paul and his bid for the white house. You, Sir, are a true newsman. Hopefully you'll still have a job tomorrow as the rest of the news media seems hell bent on blacking out Ron Paul and slapping around anyone who doesn't fall in step with them.