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

[Mike Knapp]

I was wondering if, just once, this column could give some news about Dr. Paul without the condescending attitude. His supporters know that he is not going to get the nomination, but continue to fight to get the message out.

[Stanley Pinchak]

diane,
You really need to get an basic background in elementary economics. I recommend "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt. I grabbed my copy at the used book store for $2.50 last year. I did a google search and its available to read for free online. http://jim.com/econ/contents.html

I won't ruin the book for you , but I will say that after reading it you will have a much better understanding of how government interventionism leads to unintended consequences and never achieves the goals for which it aims. Furthermore it will provide you with the foundation to further research to foundation of all progress and increases in the standard of living, free market capitilism, as opposed to interventionism which leads to capital decumulation and the resulting relative and absolute impoverishment of those subject there to.

[Tom deSabla]

Andrew said: "John McCain has won the GOP nomination....A long time ago."

What's your hurry Andy? The nomination process happens AFTER the primaries, remember? McCain is very unstable and is liable to do or say just about anything that comes into his small, yet Napoleonic mind. He could literally slap someone around and berate them in a fit of rage.

It could be a problem. McCain is a blustering bully. Ron Paul is a long-distance runner and thinker. If he was so dead in the water as everyone says - HE COULDN'T HAVE POSSIBLY PULLED 16% IN PA.

Something out there is alive and well. Growing, even.

****

Linda Rayborn said:

"I admire the dedication of Ron Paul supporters,

YEAH RIGHT

but what he proposes is just too far out there to be possible

OH REALLY? HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? WHICH ASPECT OF DR PAUL'S LONG-CONSIDERED POLICY PLATFORM IS 'TOO FAR OUT THERE" TO BE POSSIBLE? THE CONSTITUTION PERHAPS?

AND, COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD IS GOING TO ROLL INTO TOWN AND START HANGING WITH US, IT'S PRETTY FUNNY HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE "TOO FAR OUT THERE" TO BE POSSIBLE.

and Ron Paul himself does not seem to campaign very hard. Just shows up for the debates and that's about it.

BULL. DO YOU SAY THIS BECAUSE SOMEONE MISINFORMED YOU, OR BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY LYING?

I am a Huckabee supporter

WE KNOW

and am glad that Mike got a huge amount of votes considering he is not in the race, has supported McCain and is campaigning for him.

SINCE MIKE SUPPORTS MCCAIN, WE KNOW HE DOES NOT SERVE THE LORD, BECAUSE MCCAIN COULD NEVER BE CALLED A PEACEMAKER, ANDTHE LORD DOES NOT LOVE THOSE WHO GLORIFY WAR.

I would vote Huckabee (I already did in SC) in the primary too, but we must rally to Senator McCain in November.

WHY? WHOSE INTERESTS WOULD THAT SERVE?

I hope and pray Senator McCain can see what an asset Mike is to the party and add him to the ticket because we will need all the conservatives, youth, black Republicans, evangelicals and the cross-over Democrats that Mike's populist message

AHA, "populist message" EH? NOW WE GET TO IT. YOU'RE A BUNCH OF SOCIALISTS WHO HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING THAT BIG GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY. MIKE'S POPULIST MESSAGE IS THE EXACT WRONG MESSAGE FOR THIS COUNTRY - IT'S MORE OF THE SAME.

appeals to in order for the Republican's to win. We also need Ron Paul supporters to vote McCain in November. "

DREAM ON. YOU NEED TO STOP DRINKING THE KOOLAID, LADY. YOUR LITTLE JESUS BOY IS A TOTAL IDIOT, A STATIST, AND A FRAUD. WE NEED REAL THINKERS NOW, REAL MEN OF IDEAS AND COURAGEOUS ACTION.

Linda P Sarver said:

"Ron Paul himself is off the deep end crazy and would not do well in general election.

WE DISAGREE. IN FACT, WE FEEL THAT PAUL HAD TO BE MARGINALIZED BECAUSE HE WOULD DO WELL IN A GENERAL ELECTION. HE CAME FROM NOWHERE, AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE PEOPLE HEARD HIS MESSAGE. ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND PAUL'S IDEAS OF FREEDOM - YOU DON'T GO BACK.

Ii've run into his supporters and no tactic is beneath them.They ran smear boards on Huckabee.

THIS IS BULL TOO; BUT I WILL SAY THIS - HUCK IS A DUMMY WHO SHOULD BE SMEARED. WHAT KIND OF HONEST CHRISTIAN MAN TELLS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THEY COULD MAINTAIN THEIR LIFESTYLE AND STILL ELIMINATE IMPORTED OIL IN 10 YEARS?

WE IMPORT 2/3'S OF OUR OIL NOW, AND THE PERCENTAGE IS INCREASING. HUCK IS VERY UNINFORMED AND IS JUST SAYING WHAT HIS FOOLOWERS WANT TO HEAR, TRUTH BE DAMNED.

They jammped up his phone banks back when Huckabee was running.All dirty pool. "

LIES, ALL LIES! NO REALLY, I'M CALLING THIS PERSON A LIAR.

****

Darrell said:

"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."

***

Darrell, you have have no idea what a common, statist myth this is, that the world is just so complex, that oh dear, anyone who provides a simple solution just must be wrong.

Bull. For example, most every economic problem the world over can be traced back to the abandonment of the international gold standard, and the universal adoption of fiat money by the nations of the world.

Of course, they got sucked into it by, guess who?

Us, that's who. After Bretton Woods, they were supposed to be able to trade their dollars back to us for gold. That's what spread dollars out all over the globe, and also allowed us to export inflation, rather than deal with it ourselves, like other nations have to do. Of course, we reneged in 1971.

With fiat money, the gap betwen the rich and poor will always increase, and saving will always be given the cold shoulder in favor of consumption.

You see, simplicity can be very comprehensive! And, complexity is the enemy of liberty.

[Bill]

We're learning this election...

It doesn't matter how popular your candidate is, if you don't get the corporate media's "blessing", you don't stand a chance.

This campaign is living proof of that. Ron Paul had the biggest grassroots movement possibly ever for a presidential candidate. He was the most popular on the internet by far. (People on the internet are generally better informed too though, I might add.)

Just imagine if Ron Paul was treated fairly in the debates. Instead of getting 9 minutes speaking time out of 90, he got 25 or 30.

Imagine if he was mentioned 1500 times per day on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, etc. Imagine if he was the subject of "Bowling for Votes" like I saw on CNN with Hitlery and Obama Bin Laden the other day. Imagine if they had days of discussions about his pastor, or his hairdresser, or anything else for that matter.

Imagine if they didn't say things like "kooky" and mention "conspiracy theorists", or say that he was "a long shot" or that he "has no chance" every time they mentioned Dr. Paul. Imagine if they asked McCain if he would support Dr. Paul if he himself ended up dropping out.

You've seen that even bad coverage for the front-runners is better than no coverage at all like Dr. Paul is getting. The other candidates are dispicable... crooked... bought and paid for... and everyone knows it. They even tell you that on the msm. But they know it doesn't matter. People are so apathetic in this country, all they have to do is parade the faces of the people they want in office on the idiot box every day... day in and day out... and people will vote for them.

About 10-15% of Americans really know what's going on in this country, and I think most of them would/will vote for Dr. Paul. The rest are simple-minded dolts, but mostly just brainwashed by the msm. They are too busy trying to pay their bills so they can keep up with the Joneses next door... too busy trying to pay for their overpriced home and their SUV payment to even have time to pay attention to why it just keeps getting harder and harder, when it should be becoming easier. All this technology... all this economic power (we used to have)... we should've been living on easy street. If we had a constitutional-sized government, I think we would've been.

Now we're screwed. And they're gonna keep screwin' us into the dirt. Sorry, but that's just how I feel. I don't know when people are gonna wake up, but I'm afraid it's gonna be too late.

And to you people who think that Ron Paul's ideas are "too radical" or "extreme"... I think we need something radical to change in this country, or we're all gonna be standing in the soup line soon. We need "radical" change... NOW.

But I still fail to see how following the constitution is a radical idea. Not following it is exaclty what put us in the situation we are in today... economic meltdown, growing fascism, hatred toward American's around the world, and our growing police state.

Ron Paul 2008 -- Save our nation!!

[Web Smith]

It's interesting that the combined vote totals of McCain, Paul, and Huckabee don't equal the votes of the loser Obama.

In an industrial state, the so called Republicans and the MSM special interest groups can't get 10% of the population out to vote. Perhaps MSM special interest group bias and marginalization has become so blatant that it's too much to stomach.

Listening to announcers after the contest was sickening. "Blacks are voting for", "Women are voting for", "Blue Collar workers are voting for", "White people are voting for", "Young people are voting for", "Elderly people ate voting for", "Obama is a candidate with serious problems", "Hillary squashed Obama", "Obama spent an extraordinary amount of money and failed", and on and on. TV personalities were spewing spittle because they were so worked up about the opportunity to trounce on someone who is not their choice.

[MGC]

Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate who has a clue about the rule of law as propounded by the Constitution; economics -- at home and abroad -- and the dilatory impact of maintaining the status quo in Washington. For these reasons and more his campaign has gained momentum with the disenfranchised in America -- which involves increasingly more Americans -- despite the blackout of his campaign by conventional media. He represents real change; change that would bring back the Constitution and relieve Americans of the increasingly heavy hand of their government. You won't hear that on ABC, CBS or NBC, however. But his message is getting out and if he isn't the man who brings us back to our revolutionary roots, certainly his followers will.

[Steve L.]

Diane and Darrel - you keep citing this "trickle down" theory as though it relates to Ron Paul. Nowhere does Ron Paul in his entire book talk about making things easier for rich people so that they can provide more for the poor.

The concepts he espouses are liberty and freedom. Our entitlement programs (yes, the safety net programs listed above) are bankrupt. There is no trust fund that will provide for the people as they get older. The safety net system that we have now is funded by new workers, and there are not enough of them, and so if we do not reduce our dependance on welfarism we will be forced to either take more money from the taxpayer, or devalue (inflate) our currency. Neither of which helps the poor.

Rather than talk about how his policies sound nice, how about you read up on how he plans on fixing our country. HINT: It has much more to do with following our constitution than putting anybody out on the street.

[1440 minutes]

Thank you, Andrew, for covering Ron Paul again. If it wasn't for journalists like you, he would receive zero coverage, and no one would believe that he exists when we go out and campaign for him.

[Gmartine]

Our current form of monetary policies are not sustainable. Free markets unhindered by the central planning of the federal government can work even with some reasonable amount of regulation.

This doesn't mean "trickle down economics." The federal reserve system we have is part of the trickle down theory. They are in charge of printing the money and lowering interest rates. The average citizen or small business doesn't get the initial rate. That artificially lower interest rates is given to big banks, large corporations and government subsidies. Eventually we get easier loans but the interest rates for citizens outside the initial money tier usually reset to much higher interest rates. Then the government is now bailing out large investment firms that made bad choices with our children's future tax money.

We are in debt because our empire is too big. We have more enemies around the world then I can remember in my lifetime. And there is a man that has the best solutions I have ever heard of in my lifetime.

"If we live above our means then we are destined to live below our means" - Ron Paul

[Dave B]

Huh? What trickle down economics is the earlier poster talking about? When you let people keep 100% of their income and prevent government largess & collusion with big buisness isn't that the opposite of trickle down? I think Judy Bell is very confused about the policy RP endorses.

We've spent many years giving our money and rights over to big government so they could end poverty, drug use and crime. We ended up poorer with the same problems. Now we will be forced to give up more money to give everyone universal healthcare or forced to give up more liberties so the governement can protect us froom the terrorists, or islamo-fascists, or communists, or boogeymen or whatever.

I'm very proud that my state (PA) gave Ron Paul more votes than any other state in the nation. Please join the revolution for the sake of this great country's future.

Dave

[daddysteve]

In Iowa we won't accept the electronic voting machine. Why are you?

[DavidE73]

If you add up McCain's and Huckabee's votes in Pennsylvania, you have a better estimate of McCain's strength, particularly if he chooses Huckabee as a running mate. Most Paul supporters will vote for McCain because the economic policies of the Democratic candidates are anathema to him. What McCain needs is a running mate with which he can distance himself from the Republican economic conservatives who are destroying Main Street so that they can enrich Wall Street. Huckabee would be that man.

[Brandi]

As Ron Paul himself said, Revolutions are long-term projects. People talk a lot about individualism in this country, how we're all so unique and express ourselves so differently. That simply is not true, because if we felt free to follow our hearts without worrying about what the TV tells us everyone else is thinking, Ron Paul would be our next president. Even though he might not win, he's still RIGHT. Long live the Revolution!

[RustyJohn]

In the caucus states what we are finding is that Paul is getting a half of or the majority of delegates at county and state conventions- all these McCain delegates are laegely unpledged- it takes some 1200+ to win the nomination but only about 70% of those are pledged delegates. Here in WA state the majority of delegates from SPokane County are Paul delegates and in King and Pierce County anywhere from 1/3rd to 1/2 of the delegates are Paul delegates.

[YZ]

you guys are nuts. obviously the mccain supporters either voted for hillary or didn't vote at all because WHO CARES, HE WON. the crazy ron paul/nazi supporters are off the deep end so came out en masse to support him. amazing, he won 16%, that's ridiculous. For example in 04 on may 4, almost two months after kerry clinched, edwards took 7 of N. carolinas 13 delegates. WHO CARES on june 11th dean took 2 of 14 of new jerseys. it doesn't matter

[TJ]

The 120.000+ will not vote for McCain in November. People can just keep on thinking McCain is winning over conservatives. This shows he has not even starting.

[Chris]

All of you Bible thumping Christians need to wake up and smell the fish and loaves. Jesus was a radical and never intended for his words in the Bible to be thrown into the political arena (or else he would have taken over the world when he was here). So those of you who are quoting bible verses really should get over it and accept the fact that not everyone believes the way you do. Next, OBAMA all the way MCstupid doesnt have a chance.

[TJ]

To Linda Rayborn:

No, what is "too far out there" is the DEPRESSION that this nation is about to go through, and nobody wants to face the facts.

What will be needed to pull this nation out of it is NOT more of the same...so Mr. "I don't know much about economics" John McCain certainly does not have the answers.

People are going to have to educate themselves about monetary policy, and Dr. Paul has it down pat.

[Deco]

I am wondering what would motivate people to vote for McCain't. McCain wants the boys and girls from the wrong end of town, or the rural poverty areas, to be in Iraq for 100 years. McCain wants to increase military expansionism. McCain wants to deflate the dollar, but encourage US drivers to keep their gas guzzlers and not use the bus. McCain wants to out-obliterate Iran, compared to Hillary. McCain's understanding of economics is practically non-existent. McCain promises to say angry words to the corporate interests that dominate in Washington, so that he can continue doing business with the same corporate interests....just like he did in Arizona...McCain thinks Putin is the President of Germany...McCain is not the best candidate available...even Romney would have been more capable...but he represents American Machismo and Militarism at it's most extreme...and therefore he is dangerous...as exemplified by the long list of US Forces commanders who have switched to endorsing Clinton, Obama, and just about anybody who can stop McCain.

I can't beleive half a million PA residents think that McCain is the best hope there is. I suppose on the bright side, it is much less than the quantity of Californians, or Floridians who agree with everything McCain represents. Half a million people voted for McCain because he 'iz tuff on terror'....hilarious....even more hilarious than all the fools voting for the snake oil salesman who has proven nothing except show business appeal, Obama, because he 'represents change'.

I am begining to think that the voting machines have been doctored !!! I mean Ron Paul signs are everywhere. Ron Paul donators are everywhere. Ron Paul advocates are everywhere. McCain seems only present in the commercial media.

[Jake]

Ron Paul has begun a revolution and revolutions take time. I just purchased his book from Amazon yesterday (Revolution: A Manifiesto) and I can't wait to devour it.

Mr. Malcom, thanks for writing about Dr. Paul. As always, your irony and sarcasm keep things interesting. But it's good that you write about the good doctor nonetheless because he has started a genuine movement that is only in its infancy.

Those that support Dr. Paul are young (or young at heart), idealistic and have learned a lot about the political process this time around. We know what we believe and we vote on the issues. We also know who we won't be supporting (i.e. John McCain) and why.

[Brad]

I don't think that there was any vote fraud. I voted for Ron Paul on a paper ballot at the polling place, not a Diebold machine and he lost in my county. I seriously doubt that Diebold rigged the election. Many voters are not yet ready for Ron Paul, so I think 16% is an excellent showing. Bob Barr will derail McCain in November, then if Hillary or Obama fails to end the War (and stay out of Iran) and rebuild our economy, I wouldn't be surprised if Ron Paul wins the nomination and the White House 4 years from now.

[RP has my vote]

DavidE73: I am a Ron Paul supporter and will never vote for John McCain.

[Doug Alder]

Ah yes the Ron Paul white supremacists coming crawling out from under their rocks at every mention of his name. Ron Paul sure know how to work that old dog whistle.

He's a moron. His ideas won't work and he is likely to find himself in legal problems over attempts to subvert the US Treasury with "Ron Paul Dollars" . If you think he's the answer and you are not a white supremacist (he actively accepts their support and does not denounce them) you really ought to do some real research into his historical activities. Here's a good place to start - http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/search?q=Ron+Paul

[Jeffrey H]

Unfortunately it took segregationist Governor Wallace to reveal the truth that "there's not a dime's worth of difference between" Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats willingly went along with the War in Iraq, suspension of Habeas Corpus, detaining protesters, banning books like "America Deceived' from Amazon, stealing private lands (Kelo decision), warrant-less wiretapping and refusing to investigate 9/11 properly. They are both guilty of treason.
Support Dr. Ron Paul and save this great nation.
Last link (before Google Books bends to gov't Will and drops the title):
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0

[Jake Larsen]

To Linda Rayborn:

I just want to reitterate the point above that was made rather bluntly by Tom deSabla: true Ron Paul supporters will not support McCain in the general election and adding Huckabee to that ticket wouldn't change a darn thing. To support a neo-con or a populist/socialist would be an affront to every sensible thinking anti-statist, free-market, limited government Republican/Libertarian/Constitutionalist.

Here are Dr. Paul's very own comments about backing McCain in a general election:

"Will you encourage your supporters to back McCain in the general election?"

I'm not going to tell them what to do, but I honestly can't imagine ANY of them supporting him. That would be a tough sale. The odds of him all of a sudden coming to one of our rallies and being cheered on are not very high.

To be fair, Dr. Paul did say that if McCain reversed his position on the war and renounced McCain-Feingold that he would consider endorsing him. But this isn't going to happen since McCain thinks we should continue this war and perhaps have permanent military bases in Iraq.

The neo-con crowd will struggle to keep power, but they will eventually be replaced by clear thinking, young motivated Republicans/Independents/Libertarians that respect the rule of law, the constitution, balanced budgets, civil liberties, a foreign policy of non-invervention, and freedom. Like I said earlier, Revolutions take time.