Why is Paul doing so well?

[Free Palestine]

Four years ago, he was a fringe candidate vilified by all but his cabal of supporters.  Now he's challenging the "mainstream" candidates in the polls.  Why the hell is this happening?

[WillK]

Four years ago, he was a fringe candidate vilified by all but his cabal of supporters.  Now he's challenging the "mainstream" candidates in the polls.  Why the hell is this happening?

Compared to most of the field he is smart, articulate, principled and sane.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Because the young don't want to go fight in an unjust war, religious conservatives like me want to end abortion, the fiscal conservatives and the Tea Party want to get rid of our debt, liberals are concerned about civil liberties and Ron Paul is the one candidate that will try to do those things. Plus many conservatives are seeing the error of the neocon/Old Rockefeller wing of the GOP and their big government mentality.

[Badger]

Four years ago, he was a fringe candidate vilified by all but his cabal of supporters.  Now he's challenging the "mainstream" candidates in the polls.  Why the hell is this happening?

Compared to most of the field he is smart, articulate, principled and sane.

We can stop there.

[Jacobtm]

I know lots of people who're voters, and lean liberal. The types who've voted for Democrats and maybe Perot/Nader. They think most politicians are scumbags, but y'know, lean the way they lean.

They like Ron Paul alot. He's honest and sticks to his beliefs, is the most common compliment I hear. When they hear him disagree with Republican orthodoxy, talking about how we shouldn't be invading countries for kicks, they agree wholeheartedly. They don't know all his positions, can't really imagine what a Ron Paul administration would look like, but to them he seems like a straight-shooter who isn't trying to turn us into a bellicose theocracy.

Obviously, any liberal who believes the federal government should fund things like education, health care, transportation etc. would have a hard time living with a Ron Paul administration. But the admiration for the honest guy is still there, since it's not yet pointed out how he wants to cut every social program there is.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Four years ago, he was a fringe candidate vilified by all but his cabal of supporters.  Now he's challenging the "mainstream" candidates in the polls.  Why the hell is this happening?

Compared to most of the field he is smart, articulate, principled and sane.

We can stop there.

Compared to most of the field what? That's not an explination.

[Lief 🗽]

All the fifteen year olds who supported him in 2008 are finally old enough to vote this time.

[Badger]

Four years ago, he was a fringe candidate vilified by all but his cabal of supporters.  Now he's challenging the "mainstream" candidates in the polls.  Why the hell is this happening?

Compared to most of the field he is smart, articulate, principled and sane.

We can stop there.

Compared to most of the field what? That's not an explination.

Insert anything you'd like after the phrase. Paul is doing so well because the rest of the field is so craptastic.

[Free Palestine]

All the fifteen year olds who supported him in 2008 are finally old enough to vote this time.

Now, I'm not sure that criticism of Ron Paul's support base is very fair, considering how some will say the same thing about progressives like you and I.

I'm assuming you're a progressive.  Sorry if you prefer some other label.

[Lief 🗽]

All the fifteen year olds who supported him in 2008 are finally old enough to vote this time.

Now, I'm not sure that criticism of Ron Paul's support base is very fair, considering how some will say the same thing about progressives like you and I.

I'm assuming you're a progressive.  Sorry if you prefer some other label.

Yeah, I was (mostly) joking.

I'd probably rather be called a leftist than a progressive, but I've nothing against the label.

[Bull Moose Base]

He's only doing well in Iowa where he's one of only 3 people spending money- the other two being a Mormon and mandate-passer who exudes insincerity and Bush's dumber clone.  Also the Tea Party, OWS and lack of Democratic caucus boost his likely voters relative to everyone else.  Plus even with a libertarian who defies party orthodoxy, Republicans prefer a familiar brand.

[The Mikado]

Four years ago, he was a fringe candidate vilified by all but his cabal of supporters.  Now he's challenging the "mainstream" candidates in the polls.  Why the hell is this happening?

2008 Republican field had some real heavyweights in it, like John McCain, Huckabee, and 2008 Mitt Romney.  2012 Republican field is filled with clowns like Gingrich, Bachmann, and 2012 Mitt Romney.

[Free Palestine]

All the fifteen year olds who supported him in 2008 are finally old enough to vote this time.

Now, I'm not sure that criticism of Ron Paul's support base is very fair, considering how some will say the same thing about progressives like you and I.

I'm assuming you're a progressive.  Sorry if you prefer some other label.

Yeah, I was (mostly) joking.

I'd probably rather be called a leftist than a progressive, but I've nothing against the label.

Ah, alright. 

[BigSkyBob]

Washington is fundamentally broken because the political class has failed. It has failed to keep our fiscal house in order, regulate our economy rationally, secure our borders, and maintain good relations with other countries. Ron Paul has taken a principled stand against Washington for decades. As the debt balloons, pipeline jobs are shipped to Canada, oil diverted to China, borders left open, and a large class of foreigners created literally willing to die to strike at America Paul's message will reverberate with a growing number of Americans.

[Eraserhead]

Four years ago, he was a fringe candidate vilified by all but his cabal of supporters.  Now he's challenging the "mainstream" candidates in the polls.  Why the hell is this happening?

2008 Republican field had some real heavyweights in it, like John McCain, Huckabee, and 2008 Mitt Romney.  2012 Republican field is filled with clowns like Gingrich, Bachmann, and 2012 Mitt Romney.

Huckabee is much more of a heavyweight these days, quite literally.

[they don't love you like i love you]

The main issue that made him unacceptable to the GOP base in 2008 is no longer relevant.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

The main issue that made him unacceptable to the GOP base in 2008 is no longer relevant.

Which would be?

[courts]

Because a lot of average Republicans are starting to sound like this guy.

[they don't love you like i love you]

The main issue that made him unacceptable to the GOP base in 2008 is no longer relevant.

Which would be?

Iraq War

[King]

He's the only one of the 7 who doesn't have a record of being intellectually dishonest.

[Fuzzybigfoot]

and a large class of foreigners created literally willing to die to strike at America Paul's message will reverberate with a growing number of Americans.

Hahahahahahaha what?

[TheGlobalizer]

His views align better with the impulse of the Tea Party movement than any other candidate.  Others may have co-opted the name but he's been on those topics for a long, long time.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

The new defence bill and internet bills must be helping too.