Obama vs. Paul 2008

[Spanish Moss]

Here's something I wondered - say, hypothetically, Ron Paul had more popularity in 2008 (such as in 2012), and did well in Iowa like he did this year - except won, with numerous other Republican candidates splitting rather evenly over the first few primary states - pitting numerous more traditional conservatives against the one libertarian, leading him to win the nomination.

How would that have played out, do you think?

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Obama would paint Paul as an extremist and crush him in a landslide comparable to LBJ's over Goldwater. Maybe Paul does slightly better with the youth vote than McCain but Obama does better essentially everywhere else.

[NHI]

Obama: 463 (58.0%)

Paul: 75 (40.3%)

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Obama: 463 (58.0%)

Paul: 75 (40.3%)

Lol, no. In 2008, it would be a landslide against Paul. But not nearly that bad. Paul would win NH, NV, LA, Arkansas, GA, SC, IN, the Dakotas, TE, KY, WV, and Kansas. This map is more like it...

Paul would likely beat Obama in 2012, albeit in a much, much more narrow race than it would be against Romney.

[DC Al Fine]

Paul would be a Goldwater figure, complete with a candidate winning a landslide with similar views 20 years later.