February 11, 2009 3:41 PM

Surprising Ron Paul Sparks A Movement

By
CBSNews
(CBS)  His progress has been as gradual as a tortoise on ice, but Ron Paul can no longer be dismissed as the favorite of the fringe, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

Unlike other candidates consigned to the periphery, Paul has refused to go away. He is now in a tie for third in Iowa with supposed top-tier hopefuls.

And in live-free-or-die New Hampshire, he believes his anti-Iraq war, anti-tax, pro-freedom message with its libertarian tinge may resonate.

"People are flocking to the campaign," says Paul. "Maybe they've been starved for a campaign like this."

Paul's trip to Plymouth was promising: one woman told Reynolds that he was following the next president.

"Absolutely! No doubt," she says.

Paul's supporters are fervent - almost feverish - both on the ground and online.

He has used the Internet to drum up the bulk of an eye-popping 18 million dollars in this quarter alone from what he says are frustrated members of both parties and first-time voters. If money talks, Ron Paul is shouting.

"I am surprised," Paul says. "But I'm disappointed that I am surprised. Why shouldn't this be a popular message? Why was I pessimistic?"

He adds: "Why do we assume that everybody wants the status quo? And evidently they don't."

Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved.
Add a Comment See all 1255 Comments
by bluehalfmoon December 25, 2007 1:43 AM EST
The biggest porkers in this years congress are members of Ron Paul''s own Republican party. If Mr. Paul wants to change the system, why doesn''t he start with these jokers. Birds of a feather flock together.


The demise of the bridge to nowhere notwithstanding, Sen. Ted Stevens and other Republicans remain the kings of pork-barrel spending, proving that GOP mastery of "earmarks" can withstand public scorn, a president''s rebuke and even a Democratic takeover of Congress.

The Senate''s two biggest sponsors of this year''s pet spending projects are Republicans Stevens of Alaska and Thad Cochran of Mississippi, according to preliminary reviews of fiscal 2008 spending bills by Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan group. Two of the House''s three biggest claimants of earmarks also are Republicans: Bill Young of Florida and Jerry Lewis of California, the group found.
Reply to this comment
by sevenveils December 24, 2007 11:15 PM EST
"I''ve only fired one a couple of times in my life. I''ve never gotten around to killing anything."
-- Ron Paul, on guns
Reply to this comment
by geffra1 December 24, 2007 10:40 PM EST
Find out why people are so passionate about Ron Paul. Find out what his stances are here http://youtube.com/watch?v=yCM_wQy4YVg
Reply to this comment
by yongamerica December 24, 2007 9:39 PM EST
Ron Paul should have Ross Perot as his running mate. But they''ll have the same problem Bush and Cheney did in 2000, the Pres and V. Pres cannot come from the same state, so Cheney changed his Texas residency to somewhere else just in time for the elections.
Reply to this comment
by cfin5 December 24, 2007 7:18 PM EST
Ron Paul''s Straw Poll Results
Updated on December 10, 2007
Ron Paul''s Head-to-Head Records (Win-Lose-Tie):
Ron Paul v. Rudy Giuliani 43-7-0
Ron Paul v. Mitt Romney 34-16-0
Ron Paul v. Fred Thompson 34-15-0
Ron Paul v. John McCain 44-5-0
Ron Paul v. Mike Huckabee 42-6-1
Ron Paul v. Duncan Hunter 46-2-0
Reply to this comment
by tessies101 December 24, 2007 5:44 PM EST
Pilgrimsway:
You have it wrong man. Ron Paul wants to give people a choice, wouldn''t you rather be able to decide for yourself? Or are you one of the people out there that wants government to take care of you from cradle to grave? As for those already on Social Security they will continue their benefits until death. Ron Paul will make sure the alloted amount is there for them, but we must have a foreign policy that will bring our troops home so we can cut that spending and stop aid to other countries so we can take care of our OWN FIRST. If the younger generation want to invest for their retirement money and they can certainly do a better job then our government they should not be denied that. Personally, I have paid into the system for over 25 years, but if I could get out of Social Security now or within the next 2 years I will be more than happy to keep that money and invest it over the next 20 years of my working life. I guess some people don''t get it. We have fostered a welfare/gimme society and it has to come to a close before our country is bankrupt.
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 December 24, 2007 4:22 PM EST
Ron Paul On Social Security!
http://www.issues2000.org/Contact_House.asp?name=Ron_Paul

* Allow young people to get out of the system. (Oct 2007)
* Personal retirement accounts allow investing in one''''s future. (Sep 2007)
* Federal government won''''t keep its entitlement promises. (Mar 2007)
* Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
* Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
* Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
* Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
What do you think entitlement promises are?
and No to the SS Lockbox!
Ron Paul will take away Social Security
Of course this is why the younger generation will vote for Him. So they do not have to contribute to Social Security!
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 December 24, 2007 4:16 PM EST
Ron Paul On Social Security!
http://www.issues2000.org/Contact_House.asp?name=Ron_Paul

* Allow young people to get out of the system. (Oct 2007)
* Personal retirement accounts allow investing in one''''s future. (Sep 2007)
* Federal government won''''t keep its entitlement promises. (Mar 2007)
* Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
* Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
* Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
* Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
What do you think entitlement promises are?
and No to the SS Lockbox!
Ron Paul will take away Social Security
Reply to this comment
by cfin5 December 24, 2007 10:08 AM EST
Come on Americans!.....Yes that means you! It''s the eleventh hour of the High Noon birth of TYRANNY in our nation! Tyranny and Liberty are enemies. So put on your Red, White and Blue "Constitutional Coat of Arms" and start banging on that cracked Liberty Bell of ours. That''s what it''s there for! That crack in the Bell should always be enough to remind us of how fragile our Freedom is!........Ron Paul, proven public servant to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America in 2008! GO USA!!!
Reply to this comment
by cfin5 December 24, 2007 8:52 AM EST
Americans!......Wake up! Can''t you see that America is in danger?....Go to (www.ronpaul2008.com) and see why its important for us to hire (vote) "Ron Paul Jones" as President. Hoist the Navy Jack "Don''t Tread On Me" Flag in your hearts and sign up for duty in our modern day "Bonhomme Richard" ship of rEVOLution......Your country really needs you this time!!!
Reply to this comment
See all 1255 Comments
.
Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook