Dustancostine
08-07-2007, 01:15 AM
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070806/IOWACAUCUS/70806083/1011/IOWACAUCUS
Paul unsure of future in straw poll
By James Q. Lynch
The Gazette
james.lynch@gazettecommunications.com
CEDAR RAPIDS - Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has made just two visits to Iowa, so he won't be surprised if he doesn't do as well in the Iowa GOP straw poll Saturday as some of the others seeking the Republican presidential nomination.
After all, Tommy Thompson has made 40 visits, Sam Brownback, 34, and front-runner Mitt Romney has been to Iowa 28 times since the 2004 election.
``I have no idea what will happen,'' he said about the straw poll in Ames that is expected to attract as many as 40,000 Iowa Republicans.
``The big question is why do we do so well when you check things out on the Internet, and the attention we're getting and the supporters we're attracting when, at the same time, we don't show up in any national polls,'' the Texas congressman told The Gazette Editorial Board on Monday.
Spending this week in Iowa is the biggest investment of time in one place Paul's campaign has made. He's planning a rally in Cedar Rapids at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, 350 First Ave. NE.
His crowds are getting bigger and the enthusiasm is 'boisterous,'' Paul said.
So a strong showing Saturday might be a good way to kick start his so far below-the-radar campaign, he said.
``If we do a lot better than the polls show, we will get a lot more attention and pick up momentum for the campaign,'' he
said. ``Of course, if we do very poorly, it raises a lot of questions.''
He claims to be picking up support from hard-core Republicans ``who are becoming very frustrated with spending too much in a war that we can't get out of.'' Paul wants to bring troops home from Iraq.
Paul doesn't have to do well Saturday to remain viable, he said.
``It's so early in the campaign that even not coming in first or second or third doesn't mean you haven't had any success whatsoever,'' he said. c That's because the conservative Republicans who are expected to show up for the straw poll are not Paul's strongest base of support.
His candidacy is providing an opportunity for Republicans, independents and disgruntled Democrats ``to join in and send a message ... to say they are hearing a message they like.''
Paul unsure of future in straw poll
By James Q. Lynch
The Gazette
james.lynch@gazettecommunications.com
CEDAR RAPIDS - Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has made just two visits to Iowa, so he won't be surprised if he doesn't do as well in the Iowa GOP straw poll Saturday as some of the others seeking the Republican presidential nomination.
After all, Tommy Thompson has made 40 visits, Sam Brownback, 34, and front-runner Mitt Romney has been to Iowa 28 times since the 2004 election.
``I have no idea what will happen,'' he said about the straw poll in Ames that is expected to attract as many as 40,000 Iowa Republicans.
``The big question is why do we do so well when you check things out on the Internet, and the attention we're getting and the supporters we're attracting when, at the same time, we don't show up in any national polls,'' the Texas congressman told The Gazette Editorial Board on Monday.
Spending this week in Iowa is the biggest investment of time in one place Paul's campaign has made. He's planning a rally in Cedar Rapids at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, 350 First Ave. NE.
His crowds are getting bigger and the enthusiasm is 'boisterous,'' Paul said.
So a strong showing Saturday might be a good way to kick start his so far below-the-radar campaign, he said.
``If we do a lot better than the polls show, we will get a lot more attention and pick up momentum for the campaign,'' he
said. ``Of course, if we do very poorly, it raises a lot of questions.''
He claims to be picking up support from hard-core Republicans ``who are becoming very frustrated with spending too much in a war that we can't get out of.'' Paul wants to bring troops home from Iraq.
Paul doesn't have to do well Saturday to remain viable, he said.
``It's so early in the campaign that even not coming in first or second or third doesn't mean you haven't had any success whatsoever,'' he said. c That's because the conservative Republicans who are expected to show up for the straw poll are not Paul's strongest base of support.
His candidacy is providing an opportunity for Republicans, independents and disgruntled Democrats ``to join in and send a message ... to say they are hearing a message they like.''