Ron Paul has a populist message that I like. The Republican US Congressman with the big "L" Libertarian ideas from the state of Texas is vying for the Republican nomination for president and though many have never even heard of him, or have no idea what he stands for his message is resonating online. But this election will not be won on the World Wide Web. Paul needs real poll numbers and he needs them fast or he is toast.

Ron Paul Needs Real Poll Numbers

He's now buying ad time and he is trying to get it in the only state where he has any shot at getting any traction. In New Hampshire he is taking some of that "useless paper money" and using it to buy advertising time to try and get some sort of real traction.


Supporters have touted online polls and fundraising efforts as proof that as a candidate, he is strong. That's ridiculous, he is right now a candidate that most of the voters in the US have never even heard of and would never ever vote for. However, TNR notes that Ron Paul is on the air, hitting some powerful populist buttons: Iraq, wasteful spending, plus the specter of national ID cards and "loss of privacy rights."

That's a good move for the Granite State, but I'm not even certain how he will play there. Let me note this disclaimer, I like many of the things that Paul stands for. Smaller government is needed for this country as is a rejection of wasteful spending. But he is so far off on foreign policy it is frightening and most of his ideas would be a disaster and will not sell as "kitchen table" issues that are so important in presidential primaries.


This is not new - every four years the fringe latches on to some candidate (Pat Buchanan, Ralph Nader, etc.) and believes that this time it will be different. Sorry gang - It won't. For those that are new to politics this will be a lesson learned. For Paul to have any shot he would have to have way more cash than he has now, and he would actually have to show some charisma and charm. His face needs to be everywhere on television 24/7 nationwide (that's where the cash would come in) and the message and delivery would have to be palatable to the masses.

He would need sound bites that resonate. "End the war in Iraq" and "No national ID card" may be great ideas but they aren't new and certainly aren't going to cut it. Ron Paul has a very small window for a shot at success. It's closing fast and if he doesn't develop a personality soon - it will slam shut completely.


I fear the Paul supporters will be in for a very rude awakening once the primary results come in and I'm guessing it won't be pretty.

--Analysis by Michael Amsterdam