Is Ron Paul in it to win it?

Gigi and Ken Bowman of Long Island, N.Y., hold signs in support of Rep. Ron Paul outside an event for Mitt Romney, Jan. 7, 2012, in Derry, N.H.

/ AP Photo/Matt Rourke

NASHUA, N.H. - Is this Ron Paul's moment? Does he want it to be?

Fresh off a strong, third place victory in the Iowa caucuses, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul promptly . . . took a break. The Texas congressman raised some eyebrows when he paused his campaign this week rather than carrying his momentum straight to New Hampshire, which holds the nation's first primary on Tuesday.

To be sure, his rival Mitt Romney - former governor of neighboring state Massachusetts - has a hefty 20-point lead in New Hampshire. Still, there's potential for Paul: He's the only other candidate to break 20 percent in recent polls, and the "Live free or die" state - where independents can vote in the primary - is a natural fit for the libertarian-leaning candidate.

But while some may think Paul's time off suggests he's not serious about his campaign, it belies the fact that, aside from Romney's, Paul's campaign is the best prepared for a long nomination contest, with a large war chest and the organization to get on the ballot in states where other candidates couldn't. In New Hampshire, Paul has the support of around 30 New Hampshire state legislators, and he's campaigned in New Hampshire about as much as he has in Iowa.

And then, of course, Paul arguably has the most ardent supporters of any GOP candidate. But at times, his supporters seem to want a Paul presidency more than he does.

While other candidates have tacked their professionally-made signs into the ground across the Granite State, it's not unusual to see homemade Paul signs fluttering from highway overpasses, or Paul supporters in what appear to be homemade T-shirts. And while other candidates have been confronted by unimpressed voters - see Romney's or Rick Santorum's recent uncomfortable moments - Paul's crowds are typically enthusiastic and friendly.

When Paul showed up in Nashau on Friday, a crowd of hundreds was waiting for him, cramped in a small airplane hangar at Boire Field Airport. Buzzing with excitement, the group at times started spontaneously chanting "Ron Paul! Ron Paul!"

Ron Paul's son, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, dressed casually in a turtleneck and sweater, greeted the audience. "People ask me, 'Is campaigning fun?'" he says, loosening up the crowd. In the frank and honest style both Ron and Rand are known for, he answers that question by relating a time a woman grabbed him by the head, tugging to find out whether his curly tuft of hair was real.

Perhaps it's those trying moments that prompted Paul to lay low for a few days. But after the rally on Friday, Paul told the press, "I don't know if we took a couple of days off as much as we just stuck to our plan. We had a plan we would be here our last five days."

Breaks from the campaign trail may do minimal damage, when voters can so easily learn about candidates through other means. But there's no denying that shaking a few more hands could secure a few more votes. Brett Ferrell and Ryan Hall, both 20 years old, went to Paul's Friday event without much of an opinion about the congressman. They said they could be persuaded to vote for either for Paul or Romney.

What's more, after Paul canceled an event with college students scheduled for Friday morning, it left some wondering whether Paul is running a serious campaign or simply trying to shape the dialogue within the GOP.

Paul spokesman Gary Howard dismissed that notion. "No one has campaigned harder or smarter than Dr. Paul," he said. "We have a comprehensive plan to win the delegates necessary to be the nominee and have been working that plan hard. We will be campaigning hard through Tampa and beyond."

For Paul's most ardent supporters, his candidacy certainly isn't just about making a statement.

"If we want to get our country back on track, we need a president like Paul for at least 10 years," said Ed, a Manchester resident who declined to give his last name. "It is difficult to elect a libertarian president, but I think his showing has been very impressive. It shows a lot of people are thinking about the fiscal health of the country."

Full CBS News coverage: Ron Paul

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Ron Paul on the campaign trail

[Userreview]

"Brett Ferrell and Ryan Hall, both 20 years old, went to Paul's Friday event without much of an opinion about the congressman. They said they could be persuaded to vote for either for Paul or Romney."

Anyone who doesn't, in this comment, see a profound and urgent crisis of American democracy, American culture and the American education and information dissemination systems abides in the camp of the damned.

[Userreview]

"Brett Ferrell and Ryan Hall, both 20 years old, went to Paul's Friday event without much of an opinion about the congressman. They said they could be persuaded to vote for either for Paul or Romney."

Anyone who doesn't, in this comment, see a profound and urgent crisis of American democracy, American culture and the American education and information dissemination systems abides in the camp of the damned.

[flsunjnky]

So, you say the Social Security is unconstitutional. I have paid into that program, and my employer has matched my contribution to it for more than 20 years. There is no "entilement" to it. I deserve to have my money back.

Now, I have no time for your foolishness. Ron Paul, you are some kind of freek. Oh, an idiot as well.

We are the United States because we want to be a part of a Union so that we can all contribut to the better good of our people. We share. But it looks like every state should break that union and become independent. Oh yea, that would be smaller government for ya.

Idiot

[thebes42]

Seems like this article is little more than Anti-Paul Propaganda falsely implying Paul is not serious about seeking the Presidency.

Also, I'd much rather see Hand Made Signs than professionally printed ones. It gives me a much truer sense of the commitment of Paul's supporters, they are actively involved; whereas Romney's and Santorum's are often loaded onto PAC paid for buses and handed their signs because they don't have the motivation to make their own and drive across the state for a rally.

[fsujag54]

You nailed it. I often say, "the other candidates can't buy the type of support that Paul commands".

[MichaelRivero]

A professionally printed sign proclaims that the candidate is backed by the corporations that donate campaign money. Hand made signs proclaim the candidate is backed by the people. Which type of candidate should we have running this country?

[loveablenerd]

Really CBS?

For those of us keeping up, Ron Paul had a terrible cold early this week. It was obvious to anyone who watched his interviews the day after his strong Iowa showing. He is 76 years old, and his campaign staff is cognizant of that. He is also a doctor and knows when a little rest and recuperation is necessary. Does this mean his age could be an issue if and when he becomes President? Not hardly. Even taking a couple of days off for New Years which the press also tried to make a big deal out of, and to get over this cold... he has still taken far fewer days off than our current President. Or our previous one for that matter.

[American_overseas]

I didn't read beyond the question ... I should think Dr Paul would not have entered the race if he wasn't in it to win.

[JohnFreedom]

Your lies are weakening MSM.

Your propaganda driven by fear and ignorance is dwindling

Better hope TPTB shut down the internet before the majority of the American people fully awaken

[27Reasons]

You bet your azz he's in it to win it. He's the only serious candidate.

[Dialogos]

The people are waking up and realizing that we don't want more wars for oil company and military contactor profits. We don't want a police state or the NDAA legislation that allows the US government to arrest and detain citizens with NO DUE PROCESS. All of this in the name of terror. We are becoming North Korea!!!

Let me ask all you NEO-CONs out there. How has attacking Iraq, and bombing Afghanistan and Libya into the Stone Age helped in the so called War on Terror? The Iraq war alone created 1 MILLION widows and 1 MILLION orphans!!!! Our media hides the genocide in Libya this year. Is that not enough for you?????? Look at Egypt, the neo-con / CIA sponsored uprisings are creating more fundamentalist regimes and chaos in the Mid East and Israel will be their eventual target. As Dr. Ron Paul states, American foreign aid arms all sides in these conflicts.

Ron Paul wants to stop this Madness!!!!!! He wants to rebuild our nations DEFENSE and stop fighting wars that profit banks and military contractors AT OUR EXPENSE!!!

For Peace and Freedom, Ron Paul 2012