Ron Paul forces Mitt Romney out of the GOP race

Clearly spooked by a few of Rep. Ron Paul's second-place finishes kind of close behind him, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Romney was so flustered in his dropout speech to the Conservative Political Action Committee in Washington Thursday, that he didn't even mention Ron Paul.

That's not unusual, actually. Hardly any other candidate and virtually no major media, especially CNN, has mentioned his name for the last year, so terrified are they of his stare and his libertarian-like views, including downsizing the federal government, bringing American troops home and abolishing the Federal Reserve.

Sometimes it seems almost like a media conspiracy to ignore the former ob-gyn. Except for not one....

but two Jay Leno appearances. They even give Paul less speaking time in the debates, if they don't ban him altogether.

Despite spending some $35 million of his own money and $55 million more that once belonged to other people, the 60-year-old Romney youngster was forced to give way to the 72-year-old, 10-term congressman from Texas, who has fired up thousands of dedicated and determined and very vocal and frustrated followers, young and old, across the country and permeating the Internet. He's even got one big-name donor, one big-name endorser and another perhaps maybe.

Ron Paul signs are still flapping in the prairie winds across Iowa, where Paul's caucus finish ahead of Rudy Giuliani launched the former New York mayor's eventual political decline. Then, in New Hampshire despite being barred from the nationally-televised Fox News debate, Paul beat former Sen. Fred Thompson, which began his inevitable political death spiral.

In the face of Paul's relentless campaigning here and there and his successful fundraising -- he raised nearly $20 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, more than any other Republican -- Romney, who only has an estimated $165 million of his personal fortune left, had no choice really but to quit.

Romney's exit follows the similar Paul-forced departures of other far more famous GOP candidates -- Giuliani, Thompson, Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback, Jim Gilmore. Jeb Bush didn't even consider trying.

That leaves only Pittsburgh-native Paul, somebody named John McCain and this Mike Huckabee fellow from Arkansas, who seems to have had considerable trouble keeping a job. He's been a radio talk host, a Baptist preacher, lieutenant governor and governor. And Huckabee's had trouble raising money. He got only $1 million in the third quarter compared to Paul's $5 million.

So Huckabee can't last much longer.

That will leave only McMaverick, a former Navy squadron commander and POW who endured nearly six years of solitary confinement in Vietnam and then, worse, 25 years of listening to congressional speeches. He didn't get around to mentioning Paul either in his speech Thursday, but he was probably afraid.

Paul's website reports he's raised another $5.3 million just since Jan.1, which is more than Hillary Clinton can loan herself in one week.

Paul has given the Democrats until early August to choose between Clinton and Barack Obama, who's so young he can't remember life without color TV.

According to an authoritative Ron Paul campaign news release, with all of his accumulated fifth, fourth, third and second places, Paul claims to have 42 delegates to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul come September.

That puts him only about 660 delegates behind McCain and barely 1,149 shy of the number necessary to seize the party nomination in the name of the Ron Paul Revolution.

And Texas doesn't vote until March 4!

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[DEFINITE]

GEE! WHAT ARE FOX AND CNN GOING TO DO WITHOUT ANYONE WATCHING THEIR LIES.THERE ADVERTIZERS MIGHT MOVE ELSEWHERE.BOY THAT WOULD SUCK FOR THEM.EVERYONE I KNOW QUIT WATCHING THE NEWS,FOR THE SAME REASON.EVERYONE CAN SEE THE BIAS IN THEIR REPORTS.EVERYONE CAN SEE HOW THEY IGNORE SOME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.IT PISSES US ALL OFF, AND NOW TOGETHER, THE MASSES ARE SAYING SCREW OFF!!!!.
WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE POWER.NOT YOUR NETWORKS.YOU DONT STAY IN BUISNESS IF THERE IS NO ONE WATCHING YOUR CRAP.

[PJ]

Great article.

Any way you can push the LA Times to get some featured & published stories on Ron Paul ?

[Matt D]

It must be a sad day when your sarcasm radar finally breaks.

[Ron Paul Wired]

Great Article. I just wrote a follow how good an article this was on:

http://www.ronpaulwired.com/la-times-reports-on-ron-pauls-progress/

RonPaulWired.com - We find the most recent Ron Paul news.. so you don't have to

[Oscar A., Alhambra, CA]

To redking:

You're just NOW coming to realization that Fox News is biased and discriminatory?! Imagine being a Democrat. Speaking of...
If I were Republican, my vote would easily go to Ron Paul. He's the only candidate who's made any sense. In fact, I like him better than OUR choices!

[Cameron, Redondo Beach]

Awesome article! It made me smile, whether it was sarcasm or not!

Mr. Malcolm really makes a good point about how Paul has stuck in there while the giants have fallen one-by-one. Even though he only has 42 delegates, that number could grow and become a factor. Super-duper Tuesday isn't necessarily game over. It is very unlikely that he will win, but it was also very unlikely that Romney would drop out before him. Same with Giuliani and Thompson! McCain is indeed the obvious front runner, but I'm really looking forward to a Huckabee vs. Paul vs. McCain debate on Feb 28th! If nothing else, it sure is fun to watch!

[AAAAANDRE]

You may have wasted your vote for someone else in our primary, but you can still vote for Ron Paul with your wallet in the remaining elections.

Donate now to his campaign so he can win some more delegates and stop McCain!

[Josh]

If only you wrote the front page articles and not the internet blogs...

(Ah, if only millions of people still subscribed to newspapers instead of going online for their information. Oh, wait. That's where we are!)

[Abe C.]

There's boorish seriousness and then there's buffoondom--this is solid wit! Great piece, Mr. Malcolm.

Ron Paul 2008!

[Allana Ann]

We cannot say thank you enough for finally giving Ron Paul the positive media light that he has been long over due for.

I have never cared about politics until I researched Ron Paul. It is more than obvious our nation needs to change and there is no one I would trust more than the honest Ron Paul to do so.

First there were 11, now there are 3.

Vote Ron Paul and thank you for the article!!

[C. Fountain]

Thanks for the piece of (somewhat deserved) sarcasm. I am always a little frustrated by my follow Pauliticians when they claim 'fear of Paul' as the driving force keeping him from showing up on the media's radar.

That being said, I was also pretty frustrated to see that my local Atlanta fishwrap, neglected to show Dr. Paul in their 'Voter's Guide' the Sunday before Super Tuesday. While I wouldn't chalk it up to 'fear,' I don't think his low poll numbers justify his exclusion from what many voters consider an influential tool for voting. I wonder how many other papers made a similar decision. While I don't expect lavish praise or endorsments, this type of exclusion makes one wonder how Dr. Paul would have done if his positions were more published.

Peace be with you.

[Thomas A. O'Brien]

Thank you Mr. Malcolm for telling it like it is with those "fringe" candidates that Ron Paul has had to deal with dropping like flies!! Both McCain and Huckabee have always been in the red and neither entered the New Year solvent. I suspect as we speak the McCain's "straight talk express" is no doubt on "E" and somewhere coasting in on fumes. I don't know if Huckabee has any more thousand dollar a burger grill outs planed down the road with old Chuck Norris- but I suspect that if he and few remaining staff ever get near some free grub they would be prudent to take part themselves and maybe line their pockets (all you can sneak - buffet style) - never knowing where the next meals coming from with "living off the land " and such. If those two were ever allowed to run the country the way they run their campaigns we can all look forward to life in the bread lines . Thank you once again for your perspectives on Ron Paul - your opinions are always well received and appreciated!

[Anthony Cinelli]

Thanks for the article, even if it's just a blog :) I still don't understand the media blackout against Ron Paul. If there is no threat for him to win according to these media outlets, isn't he and his views entertaining? Ron Paul will remain in the race, and with Romney out, will win a few states. Turn off the TV because they're is no real news there...new media is the Internet, and it just got its biggest story yet...

[David W.A. Robertson,Scotland]

Professor Antal E. Fekete is a renowned mathematician and monetary scientist. He has recently authored two articles in which he describes how the United States may be eviscerated by China and Russia, monetarily.

Professor Fekete also states in both articles that Dr. Ron Paul is the only candidate who has the foggiest idea of how to prevent this.

This is not a game. The future of your nation is at stake. Will you look back at this time and say if only I had listened? Or will you say I am so glad I listened?

Read something real for a change and learn:

http://www.kitco.com/ind/fekete/jan302008.html

http://www.kitco.com/ind/fekete/feb052008.html

[George]

Andrew,

Thank God for your article -

Perhaps this will put those goofball Ron Paul-ites in their due place - somewhere where all that freedom of the Press, Constitution junk belongs - in a dark closet !

No doubt your LA Times readers are sick and tired of hearing about a smaller and less intrusive Government - I know I am!

Everyone knows (except for Ron Paul, and his "paid-for" corporate sponsors), that it's time to expand America's military influence in the world - at whatever the cost !

You can count me on board to provide my entire wealth and personal freedom for the cause !

It's obvious you're a true patriot as well comrade, and that you're fully prepared to give up your freedoms as well, all for the Party (or the Royalty).

Looking back on all that "Bill of Rights" stuff the Founding Fathers wrote (whatever THAT is) - Ohmigod - what a bunch of archaic gobbledygook

Good job - keep up the good work!

[George]

Andrew,

Thank God for your article -

Perhaps this will put those goofball Ron Paul-ites in their due place - somewhere where all that freedom of the Press, Constitution junk belongs - in a dark closet !

No doubt your LA Times readers are sick and tired of hearing about a smaller and less intrusive Government - I know I am!

Everyone knows (except for Ron Paul, and his "paid-for" corporate sponsors), that it's time to expand America's military influence in the world - at whatever the cost !

You can count me on board to provide my entire wealth and personal freedom for the cause !

It's obvious you're a true patriot as well comrade, and that you're fully prepared to give up your freedoms as well, all for the Party (or the Royalty).

Looking back on all that "Bill of Rights" stuff the Founding Fathers wrote (whatever THAT is) - Ohmigod - what a bunch of archaic gobbledygook

Good job - keep up the good work!

[jC]

Thanks for giving what seems like a fair and balanced article..I will suggest to my friends that they come see you...jC

[Louis Lambert]

Hilarious, I love coming back to read Andrew when he's at his witty best. He has the subject of Ron Paul completely to himself amongst the old media companies, so it's a rich vein where others fear to tread.
Go Ron Paul, we love and support him downunder here in Oz too!

(Thank you for the kind words and especially for returning to read us and take the time to leave a comment. Psst. Not everyone agrees with you.)

[Akston]

"Sarcasm: Just another service provided by Andrew Malcolm"

I love it! Funny read. Thanks for another gem Malcolm. :-)

[Carol]

I would not advocate offending and alienating Romney's supporters at this time, dolts!

[mitt romney]

Good try! L.A. Times is still a useless tabloid and any serious journalist with integrity wouldn't want to be associated with it.

(No, sir. Thanks for coming to us online. Seriously.)

[Anton]

Thanks. Ron Paul spoke to 10,000 people at Liberty University today. Great news, looks like finally someone can rally up the conserative base. Limited government and lower taxes is no longer something a republican can talk about until getting elected and then forget about it.

[greg]

Andrew have you been hanging out with TJ Simers?

(I'll take that as a compliment. I've never met him, but know he's a clever writer. Thank you. BTW, are you Bagboy?)

[Scott]

Way to go Andrew, appreciate your humorous support.

[Jason]

Thanks for the fun yet informative article on Dr. Paul Malcom!

The god I believe in is full of miracles.

GO RON PAUL!!