Do you think Ron Paul could win a national election?

[azamalech]

If Dr. Paul ran either as the Republican candidate or as an independent or third party, do you think he could win a national election?

If he had been nominated this year - Could he beat Barack Obama? Or could he beat McCain and Obama as a Libertarian or indie?

In 1988 when Ron Paul ran as the Libertarian candidate he got 0.5% of the vote (about 400,000 votes) but he's much more well known today (as evidenced by strong primary showing and heavy fundraising).

[Monolithic]

nope

he wouldn't have the support of the stubborn social conservatives who are against drug legalization, or the interventionalist neoconservatives from the republican party

and he wouldn't have the support from the socialists, internationalist liberals, and prochoice members of the democratic party

[Conza88]

2 mil votes guarenteed.

+ how ever many million who would only vote if he made it to the general.
+ Awakened consciousness of there is no difference between democrats and republicans.

*shrugs* as long as diebold exists, he won't win.

[Bradley in DC]

Yes, but only if Tom Lizardo and the people who run his successful campaigns were running it.

[Captain America]

yes he could win if he was part of the debates

[ChickenHawk]

No way probably ever. His views are way outside the mainstream and I don't think that it is likely that will ever change. The libertarian and non-interventionist positions will never be widely popular for many reasons.

[0zzy]

I don't think he can run a campaign, well, at least at a national level. he's a bad politician, which has a con, not getting elected for president.

[ClayTrainor]

I don't think he can run a campaign, well, at least at a national level. he's a bad politician, which has a con, not getting elected for president.

Unfortunately i agree with this but,

Ron Paul would still have a profound effect, and i think he'd get over 10% for sure at this point.

[muh_roads]

Only if the media covered him equally could he have a chance.

[pacelli]

If he had been the "presumptive nominee" and covered as much as McCain over the past year, he would most definitely win over Obama. But that's fantasy land.

[xerigen]

Nope. After this election cycle, it's evident that the establishment which includes the candidates, the white house, entire parties, lobbyists, corporations, the media, newspapers, bankers, international hot shots are just too deep and can control the entire thing. Ron Paul threatens too many people.

[IPSecure]

"Anything Worth Doing, Is Worth Overdoing"

[RickyJ]

In a fair election he could win. But fair elections in the USA haven't happened since George Washington won.

[Mahkato]

Nope. After this election cycle, it's evident that the establishment which includes the candidates, the white house, entire parties, lobbyists, corporations, the media, newspapers, bankers, international hot shots are just too deep and can control the entire thing. Ron Paul threatens too many people.

Right. Virtually the entire power class in this country would lose some or all of their power if we returned to a constitutional republic.

[Truth Warrior]

Zero for 2.

[Drknows]

No his message is not pretty enough. It needs a better delivery.

Take the war on drugs. When he brings that up people get this picture of coke heads running around every neighborhood.

Instead of saying end the War on Drugs he should have said. The states need to go after these drug offenders not the federal government. State government is becoming lazy and not doing a good enough job, Loud applause. blah blah.

Make it sound more protective than the current policy.


You need to take his weak points in his message and make them work in your favor.


On foreign Policy. Instead of saying pull the troops home. Ask the people dont you think its time Europe and the rest of the world start spending their own money and protect themselves?

Why must the American Tax payer pay? When Europe has more money than us? They should be paying us if thats the case!!


You have to give his message of freedom more fight.

[revolutionman]

I was gonna respond "No this country isn't ready for him yet" but I realized that since this national election is basically over, the thread topic must be asking whether or not i think he can win a national election in 2012.

my answer was "Yes, but only as the GOP nominee"

We've got four years to lay a foundation so that this may come to pass. We can do it. Its just a matter of maintaining focus and energy. Thanks to Dr. Paul, and the 1000 other leaders taking charge in this movement, that should not be a hard task.

[NewFederalist]

My first inclination was to vote "No way" but then after thinking about it I decided to vote "Yes but only as third party". My reasoning is this; for mostly all of the reasons already brought up by others he would get badly beaten in a two way race (IF he could even win the GOP nomination) because the media would not play fair. However, in a three way race he would not need anything close to 50% of the popular vote to win an Electoral College majority. He could win the same way Jesse Ventura did in the 1998 Minnesota governor's race which was with some 37% of the vote of so. That would make a Ron Paul victory more possible.

[Number19]

The question is : Could Ron Paul win a national election?

The answer is - yes. But only if the people, the voters, hear him speak. Which of course means fair treatment by the news media.

As someone from Dr Paul's hometown, and a supporter for almost 30 years, I would like to point out that our Good Doctor HAS NEVER failed to win his listeners over when they actually hear his message. Even this year, with the negative treatment by the MSM, he still won 5.6% of the primary vote. Down here on the Gulf Coast, in his congressional district, the elites of both the Dem & Rep Parties just don't get it - don't understand why he keeps getting re-elected with vote totals like 70%. It's really simple - the people hear the message and, unbelievably to many, it's what the people want and respond to.

Obama is going to win this November, and if the shit hits the fan during his administration, which I fully expect, then 2012 will present a golden opportunity for our message. I totally expect RP to be re-elected to Congress in 2010. Health permitting, 2012 could be his swan song as our torch bearer.

[pinkmandy]

I don't know but it sure would be nice to have him out there showing everyone what assclowns McCain and Obama really are.

People are aggravated, esp conservatives who are sucking it up for McCain. With a better run campaign there are a lot of people who would get behind him. It might not be enough to win (who knows?) but it sure would get the message out there. I'd go nuts if he ran, I'd spend every spare second promoting him. I think most of us would...

[PatriotOne]

In a fair fight, he would win hands down after given the opprotunity to educate the people on the real issues.

[CurtisLow]

Do you think Ron Paul could win a national election?

Only if he was given equal media time.

[SeanEdwards]

Never win. Americans generally don't want individual liberty. They want authorities that tell them what to do and create social hierarchies and organization.

It's the same reason human beings tend towards being religious believers. Freedom is scary.

[ChickenHawk]

Never win. Americans generally don't want individual liberty. They want authorities that tell them what to do and create social hierarchies and organization.

It's the same reason human beings tend towards being religious believers. Freedom is scary.

So true, people love their freedom but are frightened by other people's freedom. Most people have a list of freedoms that are important to them and the remaining freedoms are dangerous and need to be banned.

[Flash]

No, theres no chance at all, BUT if he was allowed in the debates somehow he could wake up a great deal of Americans.

[Natalie]

I think the only way he couldve won is if he had gotten fair media coverage.