Peden, Paul's challenger and a CPA and city councilman in Friendswood, Texas, said Paul's national campaign awakened voters in the 14th District to exactly how much of a firebrand Paul is.
"He's a lifelong libertarian," Peden said in a telephone interview prior to Tuesday's vote. "He is only a Republican of convenience, not a Republican of conviction. He's a libertarian who runs as a Republican because a libertarian can't get elected in this district."
Despite calls from his supporters, Paul insists he will not run for president as an independent. But he has pledged to continue his Republican presidential bid, knowing full well that the odds — and delegate math — are now firmly against him.
Peden attacked Paul for missing votes in the House while he campaigned for president, not spending enough time in the 14th District and most important, for choosing ideological high ground over doing the job of a congressman, which is enacting legislation.
But even his opponent — and, apparently, his constituents — still respect the job Paul is doing in Congress.
A year ago, Peden wrote a laudatory letter about Paul and his decision to run for president — a letter Paul read aloud at campaign events.
In a fundraising letter to supporters when he shifted gears from his presidential to Congressional race, Paul feared voters may reject his bid for reelection in favor of a more traditional conservative.
"The D.C. neocons think their old dream is about to come true," he wrote. "They think they can defeat me in the Republican congressional primary in Texas, March 4. And you know what? They may be right."
Fortunately for Paul — and his band of revolutionaries — they were not.
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