Ron Paul Finishes Second in NH, Says ‘I Didn’t Know You Were Out There’
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(ABC)
Ron Paul managed to hold on to expectations, finishing a strong second tonight in the New Hampshire primary.
It was validation for the 76-year-old congressmen who has spent an entire political career preaching his free market ideas and non-interventionist ideology, mostly toiling in the confines of political obscurity.
Now in the spotlight, Paul admitted that he never expected the groundswell of support, adding: “I didn’t know you were out there.”
“It’s no longer that irate, tireless minority that is stirring up the troops, now that irate majority,” said Paul to cheers of “Ron Paul, President Paul.”
Walking on stage to Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” — after his staff took the stage to the Darth Vader theme from “Star Wars” — Paul thanked his family, campaign staff, and the Manchester Union Leader for not endorsing him for president. The leading New Hampshire publication endorsed Newt Gingrich.
Paul’s strong second place in New Hampshire was hard fought and a boost to the campaign, which managed to hold off his GOP rivals despite taking two days off in the past week and keeping a light campaign schedule.
It was in New Hampshire that Paul launched his bid for president, announcing on ABC’s “Good Morning America” last May.
He subsequently made more than 50 campaign stops, augmented with a strong ground game that included a small army of volunteers from around the country and also supported by $2 million worth of television advertising.
Although the campaign had hoped to woo over undecided voters by stressing Paul’s non-interventionist foreign policy, they said they knew they would be unlikely to topple Mitt Romney.
But with a strong second place showing, Paul said tonight he was “nipping at his heels.”
The campaign is already looking forward to South Carolina, which votes on Jan. 21. The congressman is scheduled to hold a rally Wednesday afternoon in Columbia. Paul’s foreign policy views and antiwar positions might be expected to hurt him in a state with large military institutions and a heavy defense industry, but Paul says that he receives more money from members of the military than all the other candidates combined.
After South Carolina, Paul is expected to mainly bypass Florida because of the huge cost of advertising and campaigning in the state. Paul’s campaign manager reportedly said that spending $9 million for 50 delegates is not worth it.
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Ron Paul walked on stage to Tom Petty “I wont back down”. What kind of lie is that? He walked up to darth vaders theme tune? Seriously.
Posted by: waveripper | January 11, 2012, 12:19 am 12:19 am
Really? Darth Vader. You liars. You “journalists” are pure evil.
Posted by: What | January 11, 2012, 12:29 am 12:29 am
As much as I would love to meet Dr. Paul in person here in Florida, I get it. Spend our money wisely, Dr. Paul, we need to make every dollar count. I’ll broaden my outreach efforts beyond my own neighborhood. Maybe we can get some other speakers for your message down here. Don’t give up on Florida; with Gingrich on the run, you’ve got a good chance to be our top choice, especially if South Carolina goes well. But stay well, and THANK YOU, Ron Paul, for representing the middle class!
Posted by: Mary | January 11, 2012, 12:31 am 12:31 am
These schlub writers just don’t even care anymore.
Posted by: TheAuthorsDaddy | January 11, 2012, 12:31 am 12:31 am
P.S. We’re here now, and we’re here to stay.
Posted by: Mary | January 11, 2012, 12:33 am 12:33 am
“Paul’s foreign policy views and antiwar positions might be expected to hurt him in a state with large military institutions and a heavy defense industry, but Paul says that he receives more money from members of the military than all the other candidates combined.”
Correction:
“Paul DOES receive more money from members of the military than all the other candidates combined.”
It’s a fact; it’s empirical; it’s certifiable; it’s public record.
It’s not just his word vs. someone’s else’s word.
So state the facts.
Posted by: XX | January 11, 2012, 12:35 am 12:35 am
Ron Paul. 2012. Or bust.
Posted by: wsjiii | January 11, 2012, 12:41 am 12:41 am
Darth Vader theme? Really? You should be ashamed of yourself. It’s bad enough that you guys at ABC ignore and marginalize Ron Paul and his supporters, but now you mock us? I notice the link to the actual video of Dr. Paul coming out to give his speech is conveniently not working at this time.
Posted by: Raymond | January 11, 2012, 12:45 am 12:45 am
WHAT? Paul ‘s song was “I won’t back Down” by Tom Petty. NOT THE DARTH VADER THEME SONG. Now I realize this was an intentional “error” to thumb your nose at Paul supporters. But you should also realize that you are further ruining your credibility and turning more people on to Paul’s message.
I guess I should really thank you. You’re a Ron Paul supporter at heart. God Bless your little heart.
Posted by: kkristoff | January 11, 2012, 12:45 am 12:45 am
Don’t forget
Romney walked on stage to the Styx’s “Mr Roboto”
Huntsman walked on stage to Bowie’s “Little China Girl”
Newt walked on stage to “The Chicken Dance”
Santorum walked on stage to Megadeth’s “Killing is my Business.”
Perry walked on stage to Willie Nelson’s “Cowboys are Frequently/Recently Fond of Each Other.”
Posted by: John | January 11, 2012, 12:45 am 12:45 am
Jason Volack plays princess leia’s theme song when he sits at his chair to undertake yellow journalism.
Posted by: Rick | January 11, 2012, 12:52 am 12:52 am
Columbia?
Posted by: rick | January 11, 2012, 1:12 am 1:12 am
Geez, people, this isn’t an attack article. This guy writes news articles about Ron Paul all the time…minus the attacks. Try not to be so defensive right off the bat – it makes it less meaningful the rest of the time.
So..thank you, Jason for writing fair articles about Ron Paul…and for never saying “even though he can’t win”. ABC should thank you…I would never click on their website if your articles weren’t here.
Posted by: Abby | January 11, 2012, 1:21 am 1:21 am
Hey, the video isn’t working…
Posted by: Matt | January 11, 2012, 1:45 am 1:45 am
You could not help yourself but hey, we don’t expect much from you boys who are working for the very people who have stolen our freedom.
Ron Paul is the only man who will do what he says he will do. The man writing this story is ….. Well I am a Ron Paul supporter so I will do as Dr. Paul would do and just say, “he confuses the facts with fantasy sometimes. Vote for Ron Paul.
Posted by: David Infinger | January 11, 2012, 1:47 am 1:47 am
This article is meant to manipulate “the stupids”. It doesn’t talk about the message Ron Paul spoke of repeatedly, it picks and chooses specific phrases. Here are some examples:
WHAT ARTICLE SAYS — “what stupids conclude”
I DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE OUT THERE — “he doesn’t know”
RON PAUL MANAGED TO HOLD ON — “he barely made it”
76-YEAR-OLD — “he’s old”
SPENT HIS ENTIRE — “he wasted it all”
CAREER PREACHING — “he’s a preacher”
TOILING IN CONFINES — “sound dirty like soil in a corner”
IN THE SPOTLIGHT, PAUL ADMITTED — “they had to interrogate him”
GROUNDSWELL — “sounds dirty”
THAT IRATE…STIRRING…TROOPS — “the troops are irate and he’s stirring them”
FAMILY…STAFF…UNION LEADER FOR NOT ENDORSING HIM — “his family didn’t endorse him”
LEADING NH PUBLICATION ENDORSED NEWT GINGRICH — “Newt and that publication are leaders”
Now this is less than half the article. By this time the stupids stop reading and end up manipulated in what seems an “honest” article. THEN the video doesn’t work (although the commercial does, no technical difficulty there) in what seems to be an “honest” mistake.
Are there no bounds?
Posted by: Hector | January 11, 2012, 2:55 am 2:55 am
Ohh another article supporting Romney (as ABC is part of the establishment), how strange LOL
We are here to stay and we won’t stop, Paul supporters will only grow and grow as people wake up to this nightmare.
END THE FED, BRING OUR SOLDIERS BACK HOME,
Posted by: Nevada | January 11, 2012, 6:01 am 6:01 am
Paulites do nothing but complain. First the Chosen One does not get enough media coverage, now no one covers him properly. Remember, the whole world does not see the Chosen One with the rose colored glasses that you Paulites are wearing. Paul is a dangerous man, not because he wants to end wars (which is why he gets so much military support – if I were in the military, would I want a cushy desk job at home or a job where I am shot at everyday in Afganistan? Not a hard choice there)’ but because he is a slash and burn candidate that speaks of doom and gloom. A Paul presidency would at least put a run on the market for guns and gold. Wake up people, you liberties are not being abused. The snake oil salesmen has you all fooled.
Posted by: Really? | January 11, 2012, 7:50 am 7:50 am
“I did’n know you where out there”
That is due to the fact that the media thinks that they speak for the American people. Ron Paul 2012
Posted by: NoSheeple | January 11, 2012, 7:55 am 7:55 am
Ron Paul will surge in sc newt it going to spend his money attacking Romney which will help paul
Posted by: Bill Nelson | January 11, 2012, 8:12 am 8:12 am
@ Hector: I am an avid Dr. Paul supporter but I’ll be honest, it’s “conspiracy” drivel like what you posted that would help lead me to change my mind. Quite honestly, this is one of the better (least condescending) articles I’ve read. Simply an accounting of Dr. Paul’s second place finish not intended to be an in-depth analysis of his policy positions. Sometimes you need to just take things at face value. Believe it or not, not everything has a mysterious hidden meaning nor does everyone have some evil ulterior motive.
Posted by: Lyn K | January 11, 2012, 9:00 am 9:00 am
Guys, I was there campaigning for Ron Paul and at the primary party across from the Best Western in Manchester. The “Imperial March” from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back DID play, that’s a FACT, so cut this journalist some slack and stop acting all fringy and combative unless there’s a legit reason. We’re part of a revolution and under close scrutiny. Yes, it was a strange song choice, it really should’ve been Obi-Wan’s Force theme but what can you do. At least I got to hear a dance remix of the Aimee Allen Revolution song!
Mr. Volack, please excuse some of these comments, and thanks for the coverage.
President Paul 2012 all the way!
John
Posted by: John | January 11, 2012, 9:38 am 9:38 am
The only people supporting Ron Paul, are those who would normally vote Democrat……..the young and foolish.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 11, 2012, 9:49 am 9:49 am
I am not a fan of Ron Paul but it does appear that ABC is rooting for Romney and giving Paul negative articles like this one. I am an Obama fan but I believe democracy should mean an objective media, not one spoon-feeding the winner of the Republican primary to the public.
Hector, your comment on this article’s not-so-hidden negativity was very good.
Posted by: Librarian53 | January 11, 2012, 10:20 am 10:20 am
Do not debate people who support someones cause. Ron Paul wishes to bring our country back from what is currently happening, SOPA, American is a battlefield. Why don’t we stop pretending that we all have the answers and realize that this is one of the few candidates of the last decade that wants the people to get what they want for once. Read ron pauls policies and ideas don’t spew out what you have heard on TV or the radio, no matter where you hear it, it will be skewed and twisted to sound different, word choice has a profound effect on the human mind. Now once you’ve read his views you will noice one thing, he believes that we are the country of the free being slowly tamed to be unfree, he wants to fix that. Foregin policy = genius
Posted by: Pauly | January 11, 2012, 10:21 am 10:21 am
Go Ron! You are a real contender, despite all the media assaults! You are my hero for staying the course and on message and not giving up! Ron Paul 2012!!! Go Ron!!!
Posted by: belle | January 11, 2012, 10:32 am 10:32 am
After Ron Paul came in third in Iowa and his supporters called it a “win,” I said it will be interesting to see how they will call his forthcoming loss in NH a win. Sure enough, from CNN:
“Thanks in part to an outpouring of independent voters, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas captured the silver medal in the Granite State, which he calls a win.”
Great strategy, just call losing winning. Don’t let reality ruin your day.
Posted by: Fred | January 11, 2012, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Can anyone point to a single thing that he has accomplished in congress, just ONE, sounds to me like he is a career politician who collects his pay and does nothing, except runs for President every 4 years.
Posted by: Lizzie | January 11, 2012, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
“It was validation for the 76-year-old congressmen who has spent an entire political career preaching his free market ideas and non-interventionist ideology”
What about his ABSOLUTE DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
Why isn’t that mentioned? Paul in every case defends the Constitution without fail, and he’s practically the ONLY one on Congress that does. Why doesn’t PRAVDA mention that?
Oh, I know, because Pravda is about influencing people, not about informing them.
Posted by: Richard Wicks | January 11, 2012, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
Hey Lizzie.
Can you name a SINGLE BILL which has gone through congress in the last 10 years you support?
I don’t need the Federal government to do more, I need them to do less.
Posted by: Richard Wicks | January 11, 2012, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
@NEVADA, I have read many condescending comments addressing Ron Paul supporters from people who consider themselves republicans, conservatives and “all around serious voters”.
Here is what I think, you have no original thoughts, in fact all you guys and gals do is parrot media pundits idiotic attacks as well as phony attitude of superiority. You are only fooling yourself but to a Ron Paul supporter you do not appear credible. No facts – no credits. Can you understand this? Ron Paul supporters for the most part are better informed and more intelligent for the most part.
Posted by: REPUBLICAN | January 14, 2012, 1:58 am 1:58 am