Ron Paul's base is mile deep, but only inch wide.

[Akus]

In other words, us RP supporters would climb the mountains, cross the seas and reach for the furthest stars, but we are simply too few to make any worthy impact.

Agree or not?
Substantiate.

[Akus]

I have heard that line quite a few times. I don't like hearing this, but if we deserve warranted criticism, we should definitely hear it and approach it maturely. I would like to know RPF's take on this.

[HeyArchie]

I agree sort of. But, it's something that can be changed by getting out and campaigning. Everyone who isn't establishment or in cahoots with big business (or both) starts off with this kind of mile deep, inch wide support and it grows. We have a bit more of a challenge because (for whatever reason) our message of sound money, peace and personal liberty does not seem to resonate with a great deal of the Republican party.

Back in '08 this statement would be 100 percent true, but it is obvious that Ron's support is growing and will continue to grow.

[specsaregood]

How long is it?

[centure7]

I disagree, based on the fact the Federal Reserve is now a topic for debates, the assassination of Americans is now a topic for debates, the Department of Education is now a topic for debates, and the wars are becoming unpopular in the Republican party. That is all Ron Paul.

He does not poll that well in Republican circles. Except he does! Among Republicans in their 20's, Ron Paul's support is both a mile deep AND and mile wide. Only among people who are still getting their news from the lamestream media sources is Paul's support an inch wide and a mile deep. The people who are suckered to eating up corporate candidates and corporate BS are dying off. There is a revolution going on and there is nothing the dino media can do to stop it.

While we may lose this time (or may actually win), the tides are definitely turning in a very dramatic way. Paul is doing so well exactly because the people are beginning to see through the lies and recognise the blatant corporatism that has been in the front of their faces for all too long.

[AlexG]

We started off small but "We are growing!" To say that we haven't made an impact is ridiculous. Ron Paul wouldn't be where he is today without us (not to sound pretentious). And he is making history!

[BuddyRey]

You've got the mile-deep part right, but I've constantly been awed by how much support Ron attracts from all corners of the human tapestry, from very staid, button-down conservatives to wide-eyed, school-aged rebels. I think the width of the support is far broader than we know, or perhaps closer to the point, far broader than we're "permitted" to see.

[idiom]

The inch wide is the inch between Dems and Repubs where all the swing voters live.

[ronpaulfollower999]

You've got the mile-deep part right, but I've constantly been awed by how much support Ron attracts from all corners of the human tapestry, from very staid, button-down conservatives to wide-eyed, school-aged rebels. I think the width of the support is far broader than we know, or perhaps closer to the point, far broader than we're "permitted" to see.

Yes! Talked to my 90 year old aunt today who is actually mentally sharp for her age and keeps up with current events (at least what they report on Fox). We ended up discussing the Republican candidates and of course I said I supported Ron but I was somewhat shocked when she said Ron Paul makes the most sense out of anyone. Again, she gets all her news from the MSM, no internet.

I believe our support is growing wider and wider by the day as more people see the irrationality of America's foreign policy and an unsustainable monetary system.

[jbuttell]

I don't buy it. I think the media... and even some Ron Paul supporters spend so much time thinking that we're 'the dedicated few' thinking that Paul supporters just swamp polls etc. WHAT IF its all backward. WHAT IF it isn't a small band of dedicated supporters anymore, but that they are US, we are THEM, we are EVERYWHERE. Honestly, how would we really know? I think its becoming more common as each day goes by that the guy sitting next to you who you wish would wake up to what Ron Paul is saying... is thinking the same thing about you... until one day, like some crazy twilight zone episode, the masses realize they're not alone.

[bolidew]

The message or the messenger?

[Anti Federalist]

You've got the mile-deep part right, but I've constantly been awed by how much support Ron attracts from all corners of the human tapestry, from very staid, button-down conservatives to wide-eyed, school-aged rebels. I think the width of the support is far broader than we know, or perhaps closer to the point, far broader than we're "permitted" to see.

+rep for having The Most Epic BTO Avatar yet

[Anti Federalist]

An inch wide?

Possibly.

But an inch can determine everything.

We are large enough now that if we make our numbers heard, make our stance clear, and for Christ's sake HOLD, then we can determine the 2012 outcome.

That is why it must said by every single RP person out there:

No One But Paul!!!

You got that GOP rank and file?

We will not be fooled again, we will not accept another status quo, establishment, machine, candidate.

If it is not Paul on the GOP ballot in 2012, we're walking, we're taking our 10-15 percent of the base that we have now and going home.

Result: you lose, and get four more years of Obama, because your tin men substitutes will not convince us, nor will it convince the "independents" (You know, the people you used to call "Reagan Democrats") that you need to win.

Make your choice.

[Dary]

Ron's support is world wide.

What other republican candidate can say that?

[scrosnoe]

this poll required a zip code to vote and took it down to a very local level where you could comment and connect -- it was an eye opener for me... story here (http://r3publican.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/updating-the-green-map-showing-the-peoples-president-republican-ron-paul/):

http://r3publican.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/updating-the-green-map-showing-the-peoples-president-republican-ron-paul/


map here:

http://r3publican.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/green-map-updated-081811.png?w=500&h=396
However, remains to be seen whether we can translate that to a Republican primary win...

[acptulsa]

I was one of the few who agreed wtih the statement. But 'an inch' is now an understatement. It was an inch four years ago. Now it's a few feet.

Still doesn't seem like much compared to the mile. But this is the way it must be. We are causing a paradigm shift. You don't support Ron Paul a mile deep because you like his hair. You don't support Ron Paul a mile deep because the talking heads call his views conventional wisdom. You don't support Ron Paul a mile deep because he tilts his head, grins and says, 'There you go again' with all the folksy charm of a Ronald Reagan.

You support Ron Paul a mile deep because you understand his positions a mile deep, and you see why they're right. This takes time and effort. And the longer you've been clinging to sillier notions, the more time and effort it takes.

This is why we're having such a tricky time of this campaign. We can't just scatter our seeds of revolution on the surface and expect them to take root. We have to gently dig down deep to plant our seeds if we expect them to grow...

[Akus]

So I am checking out what ppl say.
We'll see how right you all are come poll time.
Now if you excuse me, I have someone to talk to about Ron Paul.

[JamesButabi]

Ron Paul's support are the people who have broken out of the left/right media shell game. When people realize they are being robbed blind and the system does not work anymore, they break out and join us. Our numbers grow every year, theirs shrink every year.

[UtahApocalypse]

An inch wide?

Possibly.

But an inch can determine everything.

We are large enough now that if we make our numbers heard, make our stance clear, and for Christ's sake HOLD, then we can determine the 2012 outcome.

That is why it must said by every single RP person out there:

No One But Paul!!!

You got that GOP rank and file?

We will not be fooled again, we will not accept another status quo, establishment, machine, candidate.

If it is not Paul on the GOP ballot in 2012, we're walking, we're taking our 10-15 percent of the base that we have now and going home.

Result: you lose, and get four more years of Obama, because your tin men substitutes will not convince us, nor will it convince the "independents" (You know, the people you used to call "Reagan Democrats") that you need to win.

Make your choice.

Problem with your premise..... The GOP rather Obama win then Paul. Looking over the polling data from the head to head polls that is what i have learned. The same people polled that gave Paul a 51% win over Obama become only 9% win asked who they would vote for. they basically have said "Paul will beat Obama, but I am voting for Perry"

[Liberty74]

I believe our support is growing wider and wider by the day as more people see the irrationality of America's foreign policy and an unsustainable monetary system.

I have been paying close attention to the number of "friends" Ron Paul has been getting at Facebook. In the last 6 months or so, about 200K people have friended Ron Paul. That's an increase of 38% with approximately a thousand new friends being added daily.

[rich34]

I think now it's a lot more than an inch wide. We're making a lot of headway even with the media blackout. Bear in mind, there is no blackout in those early states where the local media reports the news. We're doing very well in those states and can and will be very very competitive. Just like Rand in Kentucky, I new the MSM would have a hard time controlling that one due to the local media. Well now in these early states we have the name recognition that we didn't have last time and the organization and the money already setup unlike last time so I feel pretty good about our chances. I believe this is why the MSM is trying their best to convince the rest of the country that Paul has no shot at winning even though the early states through polling, organization, and fundraising is telling a vastly different story. The next 2 money bombs is going to tell a lot about how much support we really have and the 5th even though is not being pushed as a money bomb date will tell it's own story as well. With that said, it's just to bad the MSM will refuse to tell the old folk that Paul guy is "winning." I just pray to God in heaven that we can win Iowa just to see the pundits spin it, marginalize, choke, gag, and ultimately go into full attack mode against Paul and what "he would do" to the country. Maybe then the rest of the country will start to wonder why they have ignored and are now fighting him so hard. Sorry for the rambling...

[IterTemporis]

Problem with your premise..... The GOP rather Obama win then Paul. Looking over the polling data from the head to head polls that is what i have learned. The same people polled that gave Paul a 51% win over Obama become only 9% win asked who they would vote for. they basically have said "Paul will beat Obama, but I am voting for Perry"

Yes, I know someone who said that. That they will vote for Romney because it 'looks like the GOP nominee is going to be him' (...), but that if Paul wins the nomination then they will vote for Paul against Obama because 'I don't want Obama.'

Yes, this is the type of thinking we are dealing with today. Republicans just do not want Obama, they will vote for anyone as long as they can beat Obama. If we can show them that only Paul can win against Obama, then perhaps we can nab their votes.

[Travlyr]

this poll required a zip code to vote and took it down to a very local level where you could comment and connect -- it was an eye opener for me... story here (http://r3publican.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/updating-the-green-map-showing-the-peoples-president-republican-ron-paul/):

http://r3publican.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/updating-the-green-map-showing-the-peoples-president-republican-ron-paul/


map here:

http://r3publican.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/green-map-updated-081811.png?w=500&h=396
However, remains to be seen whether we can translate that to a Republican primary win...

This is great news! "The media is being unmasked for all the world to see..."

[TheLasersShadow]

I think his support is much much wider than what you can see from a poll. Most Reps agree with him on 90% of what he says. What hurts him is the foreign policy, end the drug war and the fact your average Rep isn't smart enough to understand what he's saying "gold standard" "Keynesianism" hell they don't have a clue what the Fed even does when you ask them. BUT when the economy starts it's death slide the American people are going to flee Osama bin socialist and the plastic men and vote for the man who they believe will rescue the country. Planting the seeds for future support and staying a viable candidate will be how he wins.


Honestly just getting RP in the WhiteHouse will solve alot but it's going to have to get real bad before the changes RP wants can be pushed through congress.

Obama wins or loses on the economy so do we.

[The Free Hornet]

Most Reps agree with him on 90% of what he says.

No they do not! Not even close. The ones like Hannity who claim 95% agreement aren't even close by your own assessment:


What hurts him is the foreign policy, end the drug war and the fact your average Rep isn't smart enough to understand what he's saying "gold standard" "Keynesianism" hell they don't have a clue what the Fed even does when you ask them. BUT when the economy starts it's death slide the American people are going to flee Osama bin socialist and the plastic men and vote for the man who they believe will rescue the country.

More importantly, these 90 & 95 percenters will NOT support a balanced budged or an end to bail outs and corporateism, the 10th amendment, health care freedom (end the FDA, de-claw the AMA), and the licensing scheme that cuts off 99% of Americans from the judicial branch of the government (de-claw the ABA) [http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_Americans_are_lawyers].


Honestly just getting RP in the WhiteHouse will solve alot but it's going to have to get real bad before the changes RP wants can be pushed through congress.

Wrong! Congress is going to have to push through Ron Paul and those wusses are not going to be much of a challenge after Ron Paul wins. They'll know which way the wind is blowing and pretend to be the ones leading the charge.

[acptulsa]

The really strange thing is how thoroughly deep the things Ron Paul stands for--Constitutionally protected liberty, peace and prosperity through entrepreneurial opportunity--run in the souls of the older people of this nation. If only we can find the way to tap that, our support will grow much wider in a hurry without getting one bit shallower. Which is why I really want to see us do a commercial aimed at them and set to the Benny Goodman tune at the top of my sig.

[LeJimster]

Ron Paul's support amongst independents is greater than any other candidate. His base may not be widespread in traditional GOP terms, but the Parties are actually the minority in the US.

[HeyArchie]

http://i54.tinypic.com/2sb0hom.png

[Captain Shays]

KNOW this. The sentiment that we should mind our own business and not be the police of the world predates apple pie and baseball as being part of the American mindset. Ron Paul taps into that like no other. Well, it's simply because he's the ONLY ONE who values that position. The elites are like vampires at the end of the dracula movies after they get the stake in their hearts when they are faced with that truth.

[Sentient Void]

I absolutely disagree. There are a *lot* of Ron Paul supporters out there - a much larger percentage of the population than it seems.

They just don't know it yet.

Just like there are much more libertarians out there who just don't realize that they are libertarians.