Don't Count Ron Paul Out Yet -- He's a Front-Runner Now (ContributorNetwork)
COMMENTARY | Ron Paul is a fighter. The Texas congressman has battled into a four-way statistical first place tie for the GOP nomination among likely Iowa voters, CBS reported. He shares the distinction with Herman Cain, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.
Technically, Paul came in fourth. But with the margin of error, all four candidates are Iowa front-runners. That's an impressive turnaround for Paul and his followers. His message isn't always standard Republican fare -- at times alternating between refreshing and odd. But Paul knows government and he understands the voters.
Whatever policy messages the eventual nominees will decide to tout on the campaign trail, Americans are overwhelmingly concerned about jobs and the economy. Paul understands that. His message is a bit different than the other candidates and, whether voters agree or not, it is worth giving it a look.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Paul win the Iowa caucuses. His followers are a determined bunch and they do well in caucus turnout. A Paul victory could be a game-changer for other leading candidates who would be forced to address some of his proposals that are being virtually ignored during debate discussions. As a front-runner, Paul would merit an all-out discussion of what he proposes. Without front-runner status, other ideas fall by the wayside in debates.
I don't entirely understand Paul's proposals regarding the Federal Reserve. Some say he wants to abolish it, others say it is major reform that he proposes. Complex issues such as that are difficult to explain in 60-second sound bites, and even harder to explain during a debate when there never is a question about it. The Hill's Brent Budowsky attempted to clarify it in a recent column, only to make the issue more confusing than ever.
Last week, Paul said if Iran's nuclear program was a true threat, then President Barack Obama should go to Congress and ask for a declaration of war. I like the idea of requiring the president to follow the Constitution when it comes to committing the military. Modern presidents have forgotten that. It was refreshing to see one candidate reminding everyone that the American president cannot do just anything they want to do.
I don't know whether Paul can pull together enough supporters, money and political momentum to nudge out the other "frontrunners." What I do know is that the man is serious and he's getting people's attention. That sounds presidential to me.
Dan McGinnis is a freelance writer, published author and former newspaper publisher. He has been a candidate, campaign manager and press secretary for state and local political campaigns for more than 30 years.
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