Ron Paul is seen by many as the ultimate protest candidate. Despite the fantasy of his narrow but fierce followers, the Libertarian slash Republican from Texas isn't going to be the Republican nominee for president. Still, he has been very successful at fundraising, and was considered at the top of the heap for the bottom tier of candidates for the GOP for the last few months. But despite his cash and his online poll victories, this weekend he was likely just passed by Mike Huckabee.
Did Mike Huckabee Just Blow Past Ron Paul?
Over the weekend the "Values Voters Summit" was held in Washington and this was supposed to be a slam dunk for Mitt Romney. It wasn't. With his strong showing Mike Huckabee won the event and then had a great debate. Ron Paul, not so much.
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Time Magazine’s Amy Sullivan reported this from the VVS event, "…Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who lit up the crowd with a fiery sermon as the last candidate to address the gathering. He took second place, just 30 votes behind Romney."
She adds, "When organizers broke the votes down into those cast online and those of summit attendees, the results revealed a true thrashing. In the tally of those present at the summit, Huckabee swamped his opponents, capturing 50% of the vote. By contrast, Romney was the choice of only 10% of on-site values voters."
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Don't worry, if you are a Paul supporter he won a text poll on Sunday night. Following another snoozer of a debate, Fox that asked the question "who won the debate?" Ron Paul won hands down and when that was challenged by Fox commentator Sean Hannity on air, Dr. Paul joked, "You don't believe your own poll?" That was his best line of the night and he delivered it well.
But during the debate he was booed and came across poorly on television. It wasn't a good night. There are two differences with Paul and Huckabee. The governor has a good solid mainstream message and a good delivery. But he has no money. Ron Paul is the opposite, he has loads of cash, but he sounds just awful on television and his message will be viewed by too many as isolationist.
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I don't know what Paul does once the GOP primary voters toss him out. He refuses to say he will back the Republican nominee so I imagine he will take his dollars elsewhere and strive to be the best Ralph Nader he can be for 2008. For Huckabee, he needs an upset win in Iowa and then maybe the cash will follow.
Many have said he would be the ultimate Vice Presidential candidate for Rudy Giuliani. It's hard to argue that.
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