Rand Paul: Ron Paul surging at the right time

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said his father, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, is surging at the right time ahead of Tuesday's Iowa caucuses.

"I think this is the best time to be surging to the top," Rand Paul said on "Face the Nation." "Ron Paul has surged probably as much as anyone in the last two or three weeks and has been the frontrunner or near being the frontrunner in Iowa. He's closing the gap in New Hampshire. So I think he's surging at precisely the right time."

Ron Paul, the Texas congressman, spent most of the campaign at the back of the pack, but has recently risen to near the top of the polls in Iowa. In the most recent poll, released last night by the Des Moines Register, Paul was in a statistical tie with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

However, the poll also showed a surge by Rick Santorum, who was leading Paul when only the most recent two days were taken into account.

When asked by "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer about Santorum, Rand Paul said the former Pennsylvania Senator "has a lot of things to overcome" as the race continues, even if he does well on Tuesday.

"He was, in his last election, defeated by over 20 points," he said. "He's really been a big-government type of moderate. A lot of people don't know that because he hasn't surged to the top yet so he hasn't had much scrutiny. When he has the scrutiny, I think he's going to have some of the same problems that some of the other fair-weather conservatives have had."

Rand Paul also addressed the conventional wisdom that, despite a recent rise in the polls, his father would be unable to win the Republican nomination, or the general election.

"Who is scoring the best with Independents and Democrats among Republicans? Ron Paul is the only one getting significant Independent vote, and Democrat vote," he said. "So I actually see Ron Paul as the one Republican who could reach across the boundaries of party, collect a lot of people who don't vote normally and really energize the party.

"Look at the crowds... Ron Paul is having these big huge crowds in Iowa and really exciting a lot of young people and new people. I think there is a lot of momentum. I think he could win by bringing in the Independents."

Full CBS News coverage: Ron Paul

[pirate4paul]

here is one reason why you should consider Dr. Paul. he has always voted for the interest of and for the people. maybe the votes for this man can send a message to the hill letting them know that we the people will chart our own destiny and dont need to sacrifice our freedom or liberties.

for freedom, liberty and the true american way, forget the rest and vote for the best, Dr. Paul 2012. your childrens children are counting on you.

[mbtbd]

This report is factually inaccurate. Paul was never at the "back of the pack" in the Iowa polls. Rather, he has maintained 3-4th place out of some 9 candidates, and has now risen to 1st or 2nd. Of course, outright lies and sloppy fact checking has never been a problem with the entertainment news of CBS (or ABC, NBC, FOX for that matter). As always, those in power like it that way, and quite simply, will oppose anyone who threatens them, and use whatever tools to keep change from happening.

[Max_Fenster]

Paul is actually dropping in the polls right now. Santorum is the one surging.

[mbtbd]

In what poll is Paul dropping? Fluctuations within the margin of statistical error is hardly dropping vs what the 10%+ gain of the recent weeks. Indeed, Paul is the only candidate whose percentage of voters has held and only gained over the long run, as once people understand what he is realy saying vs standard repetative media nonsense, most people continue to support him, despite side shows provided by the entertainment media.

[BakersBabe]

Not one of the flacks running for the GOP nomination come remotely close to President Obama in intelligence and leadership.

[mbtbd]

What is you measure of "intelligence"? Someone who is able to fool people like yourself?

[BakersBabe]

Not is the time to flush the Tea Party down the toilet. Just say no to Racist, Bigoted, Hypocritical BS from rich white trash trying to by this country by buying elections.

[mbtbd]

Just because Obama is half white, does not make hime "rich white trash"! He maybe all else you mention, but half white does not equal white.

[rockymountainskip]

Santorum is only conservative on social issues, he is not a fiscal conservative. The economy is the number one issue in most peoples mind, and Santorum will not deliver on the economy. The MSM needs more scrutiny of chicken-hawk flip flopper Romney. Romney has no problem starting new wars America cannot afford, yet he has 5 military aged sons none serving their country. I guess military service is only for the little people, the sons of wallstreet elites are too precious to serve in the military.Ron Paul is the only honest candidate that will bring true change to America. Ron Paul will protect against the erosion of the constitution, he is the only candidate who doesn't see the constitution as old fashioned. Call me old fashioned because I believe in the freedoms and rights granted to us in the constitution.
Ron Paul 2012.

[LudwigVonMises]

The presstututes are working overtime in their efforts to marginalize, mock and smear Ron Paul. They are in full panic mode, and they have the anti-Paul propaganda machine running in overdrive.


Please help Ron Paul counter-punch the attackers by donating to the Ron Paul money bomb. Visit his official website: http://www.ronpaul2012.com/


Let's make this a truly Happy New Year by supporting the only man who will really change anything in Washington.

[please_wakeup]

occupy_cbs...I like Gary Johnson too, but you didn't list his accomplishments as governor.

[K. Daraa]

Ron supports term-limits, minimizing law-maker pay, he is against using war readily as a instrument of politics, big government, and a central bank that has power over all enterprise in the nation. If you consider him a 'no' politician, this is not a bad thing right now. America needs a leader to say 'no' to many self-serving interests directing the nation to a bad place.

[Macks_Power]

hypnotoad72

Question: Since he is known as being an isolationist, how will he stop all oil produced in the US from being sold on the open, free market for global purchase by any country, including countries that Ron Paul perceives to be enemy states?

What enemy states are you talking about? Haven't you noticed that all "enemy" states have large supplies of their own oil.

Question: Since the gas tax is helped to maintain roads, where will the money come from once that tax is ended? Will money rain down from the sky?

The money will come from the money saved by no longer policing the entire planet.

Question: Income, capital gains, and death taxes. Never mind how one can pay back the national debt if he's eliminating all sorts of taxes I've mentioned in my post here so far, have you ever been fettered by capital gains or death taxes? And if you did the tiniest bit of research, would you know that lifting those taxes will help the rich far, far more than anyone else?
Just askin'.
Question: What's Ron Paul's answer to stagnating wages?
Question: What's Ron Paul's answer to jobs being offshored?

One answer applies to all three of these questions. Ron Paul wants to eliminate the Federal Reserve monopoly and allow precious metals and alternative currencies to replace the limiting monopoly that the Fed imposes now. When competition and innovation are allowed to enter the backbone of the economy, the monetary system, in the same way it is existent in the goods and services portion of the economy there will no longer be a massively innefiecient use of man power and resources bottlenecked by capital and consumer spending shortages and instead there will be a system that will drive much more prosperity than what currently exists while at the same time giving a realistic share to the middle class instead of having the majority fight over scraps.

[irreverentasever]

I'd rather have a real hero that stood up and voted no to the Patriot Act, Russ Feingold.