Breaking News (Updated): Ron Paul surges in Pa.

While some people pay attention to the alleged contest between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (and she won big), almost unnoticed is the Republican primary.

Many people think Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain has won the GOP nomination.

Actually, he has. A long time ago.

But Texas Rep. Ron Paul's revolutionaries continue to plug away. With 45% of Pennsylvania's 9,268 precincts reporting, Paul has captured 15% of the vote. He's easily beating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has only 12%.

Two things will moderate joy in the Paul camp. One, Huckabee suspended his campaign and stopped campaigning weeks ago. Yet, he's still getting 12%. And second, McCain is capturing 73% of the GOP vote -- which was apparently reduced by some thousands of Republicans who changed their registration to vote Democratic for Clinton, as ordered by their leader, Rush Limbaugh, to promote further prolonged feuding among Democrats.

On the other hand, Paul will point out, McCain has already won the party's top ticket spot and yet is drawing only 3 out of 4 Republican ballots.

(UPDATE: With 98% of Pennsylvania's 9,268 precincts reporting Rep. Paul has narrowed the lead of Sen. McCain by 1%, to just 57 points. Paul captured 125,204 votes or 16% to McCain's 570,188 or 73%. Mike Huckabee trails both with 89,344 or 11%.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Darrell]

Ron Paul has some nice ideas but they are not well thought out. Ron Paul supporters need only take a look at history to know that trickle-down economics DOES NOT WORK.

Ron Paul's plans are far too simple for the complex world we live in. If you think his plans are great, you should travel a bit and allow yourself to see other perspectives because you're clearly missing something.

He's a nice guy and I'm sure he's sincere in his campaign but seriously, do some thinking.

[Roger]

Ya know, it's kinda sad that people are talking about how the GOP shouldn't have "shunned" Ron Paul, how they are going to "Pay", or about the "rampant" dissatisfaction in the GOP party....15% rampant?

It doesn't really matter anymore whether its a Dem or Rep elected to our high office....it's just more of the same....two sides of the same coin.

Get used to a small minority of people voting based on the principles that founded our country...the feeding trough is too big...though thankfully we will all be reminded of our humble roots in agrarian culture as our economy collapses and we all learn the value of saving rather than spending.

No more whining RP supporters, get over it...prepare yourselves and let the sheeple suffer as they must.

[Josh]

John McCain = Bob Dole. Another Lame Duck nominee for the good ole GOP. They could care less about winning and only want to drive the party further to the left.

Ron Paul = true conservative and the ONLY canidate who will hold true to his oath of office.

Clinton/Obama = 4 years of socialism and listening to liberal whiners cry about how they are victims of everything. Throw personal repsonsibility out the door.

America gave up a great chance here because they watch too much TV and could care less to read any policy. Policy isn't sexy. Race, radical preachers, supposed masoginism, arguments over tax returns, and back room comments about small town folk,....now that's sexy. Turn off your TV America and pick up a book. I'll even recommend a title; The Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul. Sometimes a book can change an enitre generation. Are we wise enough to take heed?

[mike hicks]

Ron Paul is the only choice there is, move over McCaine the humble RP is being raised up by some one much more powerful than you could ever be. don't stop believing all you RP supporters, keep canvassing, get delagates for Ron, I just talked to some one about Ron and he is going to vote for Ron , he was totally turned off with the other candidates, there are lots of people who still need to hear about Ron so keep up the good fight and keep praying, I believe God is listening . pray in our Lords name Jesus Christ, Give us Ron Paul for President

[Terri Kurowski]

Darrell: Ron Paul's ideas too simple for the complex world we live in? Surely you're joking! He has, by far the most well thought out solutions to the complex problems in this country, most specifically the floundering economy, and he's been talking about this and predicting what's happening now for years (and nobody listened). And who said anything about trickle down economics??

What Ron Paul is saying about the Federal Reserve alone is worth all the gold that used to be in Fort Knox. Study up!! We're being fleeced while the elites line their pockets. It's all about the monetary policy and a private bank that prints money out of thin air and lends it to the government with interest.

Ron Paul can't be summed up in bumper sticker slogans; read Ron Paul's own words. You will be amazed.

Incidentally, I just re-read his essay "Neoconned!" last night; it's a brilliant piece of writing. Check it out.

[Boltlady]

Conspiracy? Alive and well. As blakmira pointed out, it is extremely likely that it was RP who got the most votes before the machines did their thing. After all, the same type of machines were used that were used in NH. You remember how Hillary went into that one way behind in the polls and then somehow came out way ahead? Many discrepancies were uncovered in that recount but the media has been quiet about it.

Logic has to tell you that if so many people were convinced that McCain has everything sewed up, there would not have been so many that would have bothered to come out and vote for him. On the other hand, it stands to reason that the majority of the GOP votes would have been as a protest to McCain.

All you need to do is look at how many times across the states that people tried to vote for one person only to have the machine display his or her opponent. In NH the discrepancies had to do with the machine tallies. Since PA used the same kind of machines, I suspect that it was the case once again. That 16% was probably a bone thrown to the supporters hoping to quiet them down. The true numbers could well have been reversed.

[Shohadaku]

If Ron Paul had fair media, and debate time to honestly debate the issues 9 out of 10 Americans would vote for him.
If Ron Paul was the Republican candidate he would destroy whatever Democrat runs against him.
I dare ANY Candidate to go on a 1 on 1 issue debate with Ron Paul.
See how "radical" people would think Paul is if they knew Paul's stances and honesty that spans his lifetime.
Cheers to a true patriot. Our founders are rolling in their graves at what Americans have let happen to their media and Government.

[Mr. C]

Roger wrote: "Ya know, it's kinda sad that people are talking about how the GOP shouldn't have "shunned" Ron Paul, how they are going to "Pay", or about the "rampant" dissatisfaction in the GOP party....15% rampant?"

When you add the 12% of P.A. Republicans that voted for Huckabee over McCain with Ron Paul's 16%, you have 28% of the state's GOP voters that said NO to McCain!

I predict the trend will grow.

[Randolph Miller]

If Ron Paul won the Republican nomination, I'd vote for him in the general election. Since the Republicans would rather vote for 100 years of war, I'm going to vote for a different party.

[Sophie]

Darrell and other individuals have commented that Ron Paul has "nice" ideas, but that they're too simplistic. Why not try picking up a book written by Paul detailing his positions and stances instead of relying on 30-second sound bytes to draw dismissive conclusions? I highly recommend The Revolution: A Manifesto.

Traveling will only take you so far (and I've actually lived in various countries). It is the ideas that you garner from your experiences that makes the difference. If one truly wants a fresh perspective, listen to Ron Paul with an inquisitive mind. He's focused his entire political career on economics, history, and domestic & foreign policy, and I can assure you that he's had decades to think his ideas through.

[Ken]

I tried to switch my registration from Independent to Republican to vote for Ron here in PA, back in October, and never recieved confirmation of change of party...so did my wife(formerly Democrat), to the same result. Then she got calls from Barack Obama's campaign to vote for him on the 22nd...VOTER FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!! They never switched us! We couldn't vote! This system is corrupt and if you think we still have honest elections, just place your right hand out to receive your mark! Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate that makes any sense and the PTB couldn't let him win...by any means necesarry. And for those of you who think I should have checked up on the change, by the time I realised something wasn't right, it was too late. This country is going to collapse, but that's the plan, and all the ones the MSM would recognise are in on it...even Huckabee and the rest of the dropout republicans.

[Dan Warner]

I count myself among the proud Pennsylvanians who cast their vote for Ron Paul. I can tell you that we are organized and also voted for delegates who have plegded support for the good Dr. In PA we vote for our delegates on the ballot and they are NOT bound or comitted, unless they have stated so before the voting begins. Even then they can vote as they choose.

Ya gotta love PA, birthplace of a nation and our constitution. I thank my fellow patriots from the keystone state for standing up for freedom and liberty!

[judy bell]

Horton heard some who : we americans who are trying to return this country to the dignity and common sense that it was founded on. I was so thrilled to vote for Ron Paul (May God Bless Him). This Who spoke up and it felt soooo good.
Peace out

[diane]

It amazes me that so many people making less than $500K/year believe in RP's plan to eliminate all entitlements (e.g., Medicare and Social Security). Trickle down economics is really trickle up for the rich; it is a simple transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich. Once again Republicans can be convinced to vote against their own economic interests. If you believe in the complete absence of a social safety net and want to build your own roads, schools, etc. (i.e., privatize everything) and turn into a third world country, keep voting for persons like RP. Even though many of his observations are on-target, his plan for America is to take us back to the 19th century robber barons era.

[Brian]

Hey, Mr. Malcolm - How can McCain win the nomination when the convention has not yet occured? There is that whole messy delegate process to still go through. Why all the pomp and circumstance if he already won it?
Oh, maybe because it hasn't been decided yet. Paul may not have more than the very slimmest chance, but it is not over yet.
If the GOP and the MSM weren't scared of making a surge, they would actually show his 16% numbers on their minute-by-minute updates. They wouldn't even show McCain's numbers last night. This is something you would see in the Soviet Union. Huckabee supporters must be disappointed, too because their symbolic votes weren't shown either.

[Richard]

Bible references... link - http://www.harmlessasdoves.com/israelking.html

1 Samuel 8:4-22: All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "...appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."

But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."

Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day."

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."

When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."

There is nothing new under the sun. Let's make our voices louder than those that call for a worldly king's authority over them. Keep government UNDER God.

[drawlr]

Diane, Thou knowest not of what thou speakest. Ignoramus!

[Frank]

Ron Paul's plans are far too simple for the complex world we live in. If you think his plans are great, you should travel a bit and allow yourself to see other perspectives because you're clearly missing something.

Apparently you have traveled the world with blinders covering your eyes. I have spent months in other countries that: haven't had a war in centuries, have no huge deficit to pass to their grandchildren, don't print money to empower the already wealth, all citizens have enough food, fuel, minimum healthcare, and don't experience a constant rollercoaster of boom/busts in their economies. Why, because they have responsible leaders like Ron Paul running their government and not corporations and special interests twisting their country to their own needs.

[Richard]

Diane, the robber barons did more for America's poor than any politician since the Revolutionary War era. Ron Paul supports Bush's tax cuts, but doesn't champion them. I think he understands that the poor need the cuts even more than the rich, which would explain his support for the removal of the IRS tax system.

Besides, I'd still rather work for an undeservedly rich person than the undeservedly financed government, which will find my wages in the taxes they steal from myself and others.

This year, the government will spend over $30k for each citizen. This should scare anyone who earns less than that, and sees the government assuming financial responsibility (and soon decision-making responsibility) over our lives, because of the debts they have incurred in our name.

Its like we all have an insolvent uncle, who also has our Power-Of-Attorney. He spends for 'freedom', while we toil in prison. Good luck.

[keith]

"Even though many of his observations are on-target, his plan for America is to take us back to the 19th century"

Bingo!

[ellen]

"Sometimes a book can change an entire generation." Wow! Josh, above, you put your finger on exactly what is going on.

This presidential election cycle has prepared the ground to be seeded by the common sense freedom message spelled out in "The Revolution: A Manifesto" (Ron Paul's new book, due out in bookstores April 30, and already # 1 in "Politics" at Amazon.com.).

These ideas will not fade away, but will grow into a towering oak, because our children and grandchildren need them.

[Paul]

"I hope and pray Senator McCain can see what an asset Mike is to the party and add him to the ticket"

gag

" We also need Ron Paul supporters to vote McCain in November."

Simply put: That ain't gonna happen.

[txpenguin]

Write in Ron Paul for president.

[Brandon]

I plan to write-in Ron Paul regardless of the preliminary result.

My only other option would be non-participation.
Unless there was a "none of the above" ballot option, as suggested (AFAIK) by Jesse Ventura.

Out of all the people in this nation, I can't believe were reduced to this selection.

[WILDEY J MOORE]

There is way to get RON PAUL ON THE BALLOT. if the Libertarian and members of the Consittution Party to endorse him, he would appear twice. Even the diisident Republican's could vote for him.

Question is, are they more interest in their party or the country? I'm a Contitutionalist. I ran for congress. If I can, I'll vote for RON PAUL, not that aren't any good Constitutionalist. but we have one RON PAUL.