Ron Paul Winning the Web Primary
EmailIt’s less than 12 hours until the Iowa caucuses and while Mitt Romney is ahead in the latest polls, Ron Paul is winning on the Web.
A new Facebook data analysis from the independent media analytics group Socialbakers shows that among the GOP candidates, Paul has the greatest viral reach, the most engaged fans and largest increase in Facebook engagement over the past month.
Socialbakers CEO Jan Rezab said Facebook has now become a vital aspect of presidential campaigning, helping candidates secure support and build trust with prospective voters.
“There was not a platform before where there could be mutual communication between the candidate and the fan and also among the fans,” he said. “It makes people’s voices amplified.”
Paul’s engagement rate, defined as the number of “likes” and comments on his posts divided by his total number of fans, increased 69 percent over the past month, trumping all other presidential contenders, including President Obama.
But while Facebook users are chatting up a storm about Paul, they are flocking to Rick Santorum. The Pennsylvania senator increased his fan base by 23 percent in December, outpacing the second-biggest gainer, Jon Huntsman, whose following grew 18 percent.
When it comes to person-to-person interactions such as comments and conversations, Michele Bachmann seems to be sparking the most debate. More users comment on, share and “like” her posts than any other candidate’s.
And if there is any question whether polling numbers resonate with Facebook users, Mitt Romney’s recent fan explosion online, which directly correlates with two polls showing he is on top in Iowa, seems to dispel any doubts.
The polls, one from CNN and the other from the Des Moines Register, came out last Thursday and Friday, respectively. In the span of those two days, the rate at which fans were flocking Romney jumped from about 1,200 per day to more than 7,000 per day, according to the Socialbackers analysis.
The polls had a similar effect on Santorum, who shot from sixth to third place over the past month. That big bump in the polls translated into a mega-boost online. Santorum’s Facebook fan base grew 10 times faster than at any point during his campaign over the two days that the polls were released.
President Obama, who triumphed at social media campaigning in 2008, is dominating his GOP rivals this year when it comes to sheer numbers of followers. About 24 million people are Obama “fans” on Facebook and a full 50 percent of all election-related interactions on the site involved Obama in December.
“In four years, [Facebook] has developed to become less about fans and more about fan engagement,” Rezab said. “By looking at the levels of engagement we can see how valid a person’s support is.”
But can that online support translate into votes on Election Day? A Pew research study suggests they might.
A 2010 Pew Internet study showed that Facebook users were 2.5 times more likely to have attended a political meeting or rally, 57 percent more likely to have tried to convince someone to vote for a specific candidate and 43 percent more likely to vote.
“Facebook is where the people are, where all of the people are,” Rezeb said. “And candidates adapt to that by putting out smaller content pieces and content they wouldn’t have done before.”
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You have to go to the web; CNN, Fox, MSNBC, ABC, et. al. do nothing but lie and distort.
No one believes the MSM anymore.
Posted by: Jay | January 3, 2012, 6:09 am 6:09 am
Well, I’m voting for Gary Johnson but I do know that Ron Paul supporters tend to be more tech savvy, open minded and educated about what is going on in the country so it’s no wonder that they’d have the biggest viral reach compared to the others; they just don’t know how to use social media at all.
Posted by: Rick | January 3, 2012, 6:14 am 6:14 am
I think the media is trying to create a buzz about Santorum. There is really nothing new about him. He was a big government Republican representing PA; he was unable to get re-elected. Also, I agree with Jay, the MSM is not trustworthy.
Posted by: Cam | January 3, 2012, 6:20 am 6:20 am
Idk how Romney is claiming he’s gonna win when the latest ppp poll puts him behind Paul ?Thats a pretty bold statement to make IMO wonder how much it costs to buy a primary?No way Christian conservatives vote for a Mormon and no way he beats obama not a snowballs chance in hell. He is Obama so basically it’s gonna be tweedle dee or tweedle dum?Third party please.I guess Iowa counts now that Romney says he’s gonna win too lmao what a joke.
Posted by: Thomas | January 3, 2012, 6:27 am 6:27 am
Mitt Romney is bashing Obama as a “complainer.” He better watch his butt because Newt has vowed to go after him bare knuckles with negative ads.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | January 3, 2012, 6:38 am 6:38 am
That 23% increase in Santorums following? Seriously? Quit trying to make him look good. 43,000 people like him on facebook. 43,000. thats it. Ron Paul has 670,000. And he has been adding over 2,000 a day for months. Oh, and if you wanna see what that 23% increase looks like, just go look at his Facebook Wall.
Posted by: Josh | January 3, 2012, 6:49 am 6:49 am
I checked out Santorums facebook page and about 90% of those that made comments were either Rick Santorum haters or Ron Paul supporters wondering how the heck he polled so high without putting any effort or money into his campaign. I just think that Santorum has no chance in hell of winning anything but a bigot race. He hates gays and muslims, loves jews.
Posted by: joe bell | January 3, 2012, 7:13 am 7:13 am
“Thus, Paul has been able to create one of the strangest coalitions in American political history…..”
Isn’t that funny?
“Reconstructionists”, Racists, Democrats, Republicans, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Agnostics, Hippies, Evangelicals, Blacks, Japanese, Whiteys, Mexicans, Chefs, Engineers, Women, Cats, Dogs, Former Obama Voters, Astronauts, American Idol winners, Actors, Cavemen, Extraterrestrials, Native Americans, Hockey Players, Gays, Lesbians, Potheads, Enlisted Military, Veterans, Swimmers, Anarchists, Blue Eyed People, Brown Eyed People, Red Heads, Blondes, Brunettes, Americans, …..
Who is this guy?
Shame on him. Can’t have this happening ’round here.
Get the horses boys, we gonna hang him!
Posted by: Torqued | January 3, 2012, 7:16 am 7:16 am
The media is distorting the truth as they do not want any problems with the outcome of the vote counting tonight. Tonights count will be done at a secret location because the vote counters are worried that the Occupiers will cause trouble. But really this is so the media can say I told ya so when Romney or Santorum wins in this honest contest.
Google it: Occupy protests send GOP vote counting to secret location
Posted by: Kate | January 3, 2012, 7:58 am 7:58 am
“The polls, one from CNN and the other from the Des Moines Register”
= EPIC FAIL
no one believes those polls. not even the people taking the poll.
Posted by: Talal | January 3, 2012, 8:55 am 8:55 am
polls are made public to help the MSM make up your mind for you (or brainwashed if u will) everyone wants to be a winner an if u dont vote for the winner ur vote is just wasted right?
vote for who u think will do the best job in the peoples interest (corperations are not people, i dont care what Mitt says) not for who the MSM thinks will do the best job…
call me a nut job if u wanna but i truly belive we do not pick our presidents and the MSM is just there to make us think we do….
Posted by: Lifespan | January 3, 2012, 9:12 am 9:12 am
This is not a horse race! I’m not going to cast my vote on the individual most likely to win.
THIS IS FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES
We need a president that is true to his word. Honest, sincere and with a track record to prove it. Talk just isn’t going to cut it. Obama proved that much.
We need a president that understands the economic calamity we are in and how big government and their corporate pets are primarily to blame.
Above all we need a president with courage and fortitude to do what’s right even when its not popular.
Now this must sound foreign to you but trust me on this your method has not worked for the past 30 years. I think its time for real change, don’t you? Ron Paul 2012
Posted by: Ms. Jorge W. | January 3, 2012, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Everyone is right, you can’t look to the media because it’s unfair to all and favours certain people. We now are a generation of the internet and all it’s information. It’s easier and not as polluted to hop online and check things out for yourself. You can find all the truths and the b/s and pan things out for yourself instead of someone telling you how it is. I’m not American and I’ve been watching the unravel if you will and its so disturbing to think that all of you saying things are rigged etc I couldn’t believe it. So I hop online do some research for myself and I find myself sitting and thinking wow they are soo right. Their government looks like their either trying out for dictatorship over other countries including their own people in the US and the police that are in place to protect and serve the citizens in the USA are beating them b/c their voicing their opinions? Like really? This government needs to take a whole new direction don’t you think? I wish I was american so I could vote Ron Paul.. especially considering he’s the only one that actually makes sense (except the whole abortion thing, although he is a doctor and I know a lot of doctors don’t agree with abortion ) and is looking out for regular everyday people like you and I! <3 Ron Paul 2012
Posted by: Ashley | January 3, 2012, 9:45 am 9:45 am
Gary Johnson is asking his supporters to vote for Dr. Ron Paul. Please take his advice.
Posted by: Chad | January 3, 2012, 9:58 am 9:58 am
Santorum is just a tool to get Romney elected and throw Paul out of the race. They (ie the slavemasters the media) are trying to get Bachmann and Gingrich out of the race so that their supporters will be split between Santorum and Romney. Santorum is the easiest to get rid of since he’s by far the craziest (wanting to go to war with the entire world yesterday) and lacks funds. Santorum will be cut out of the race down the road ensuring a Mittens win.
The slave masters are trying to get people to focus on Santorum so that people won’t look at what an awful person their puppet Mittens is.
It should be noted that Mittens is ENTIRELY funded by the banks (so is Obama) ie Goldmann Sachs JP Morgan
Mittens took Tarp bailout money for his company Bain despite a net worth of over 250$ million.
Mittens drove Mass almost into a slumbering depression (47th out of all the states for job creation)
Mittens installed Romneycare on all his Mass citizens when he was Governor.
The below is a re-post of someone else’s. It’s an eye opener into Mr. Romney
“Clear Channel Communications which is owned by Bain capitol(Romneys company) shared with Thomas H. Lee Partners. They have 100 Fox Station under Contract..Fox+Bain own 1/2 the Media. Both buyout leverage co.s(combined 100 bill assets) We remember Refco? How about MF Global?
Thomas H. Lee Partners ownes MF global. Remember the hard drives removed from Romneys Governotorial computers?
People better come to understanding that the Dec 14th meeting in New York this year with the Primary dealers JPMorgan, Blackrock ect was when Romney got final approval from the Federal Reserve for the Presidency. Wall Street is going to get a pass on ever being held responsible for it’s action, past present or future. Like Greece or Italy and other countrys Bankers now directly run the Govt. There is no Democracy in a Banker run social order. Leverage is what got the world to where it is at, and The Federal Reserve will blow out the dollar to help the Banks all over the World.
And Romney will be saying ‘everything is fine’ as our ship goes down. Sad thing is his greed and hunger for power will not allow him to see, he is just another Jon S. Corzine, another ex Govenor, ‘Ex Banker-Private equity’
who will be taken to the woodshed by the Bankers. Like Obama or Corizone, Romney thinks you can swim the Sharks. America is about to sleep with the fishes”-Mike D
Posted by: jesse | January 3, 2012, 9:59 am 9:59 am
You have to go to the web; CNN, Fox, MSNBC, ABC, et. al. do nothing but lie and distort.
Posted by: Jay | January 3, 2012, 6:09 am.
Yes, because everything you see on “the web” is true.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 3, 2012, 10:03 am 10:03 am
Oh MSM. The part where you talked about MItt Romney’s FB fanpage increasing a lot? He bought those people! If you checked his wall during that time, people were complaining they didn’t like him. He basically bought “dead” facebook users to make himself look better. Wait, I meant to say the banks bought it for him.
Posted by: James | January 3, 2012, 10:03 am 10:03 am
For how long the main stream media refused to mention anything about Dr. Paul? They thought they could manipulate the public again like they used to. Now, let’s show them who hold the real power to determine our future. Folks, in a few weeks, there will be another hike of debt limit. At this rate, by the time BO leaves the White House, we will have 20 trillions in debt. If we are dumb enough to let him stay for four more years, our debt will likely reach 40 trillions, and the “Greek tragedy” will replay in America. Just think about this, you’ll understand why having a leader like Dr. Paul is so critical to save our future.
Posted by: phonychanges | January 3, 2012, 10:11 am 10:11 am
It’s very tragic about the lost of a son to family, but let’s be clear about Rick Santorum and his family. They have huge investments in foreign oil and the high profitable wars going on overseas, so you betcha Rickie Boy want those wars to continue. His family has and is making a fortune off of the death and misery in the Middle East. Rick Santorum is a snake in the grass.
Posted by: BeadStallCup | January 3, 2012, 10:24 am 10:24 am
Normal people like ron paul, but the people who work in media or politics do not like ron paul very much. “Important” People who work in media or politics do not like the idea of freedom for normal Americans. Posted by: robertm | January 3, 2012, 10:22 am.
I’m sorry, but that is about the dumbest statement I have read here in a long time. A really long time.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 3, 2012, 10:40 am 10:40 am
I’m sick of MSM saying Ron Paul supporters are college age. I am a 54 yr old woman, lifetime Republican, who WANTS MY CONSTITUTION BACK!
I’ll tell you why the GOP nor media, nor Karl Rove and the likes, want Ron Paul…because he can’t be bought! Any time the media supports a different candidate, it tells me that candidate can be bought.
It’s amazing that Ron Paul has the standing he does when not one cent has been given to help him. not a dime from the Republican party heads, not a cent from the long-time establishment, etc.
Yes, his foreign policy scares me, but I’ll take him any day over the remaining candidates. And his foreign policy only scares me because I believe he’s naive to believe he can cut those international strings as quickly as he says he will. There have been too many treaties and agreements made from current and past presidents for him to believe he can just yank the rug. So while it’s a great goal, his promises to do it tells me he isn’t totally educated on all international documents already in place.
But again, I’ll take him any day over the other candidates!
Posted by: Reason111 | January 3, 2012, 11:45 am 11:45 am
God forbid, the MSM only talks about Ron and Mitt. They have to add Rick into the picture to avoid talking about Ron Paul. Come on – Rick Santorum? The MSM is feeding off the general Mass’ ignorance that’s all.
Posted by: codematrix | January 3, 2012, 11:51 am 11:51 am
Go Ron Paul we here in New Hampshire are 100percent behind you.
Posted by: Matt LaBranche | January 3, 2012, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
The media is part of the military industrial complex. They are against the Constitution. A vote for freedom from tyrannical government and for the Constitution is a vote for Ron Paul. common sense tells you that Ron Paul has all the votes. Ignore the lies from the military industrial complex and media. Spread the freedom message and expose the corruption at all levels no matter how small.. video tape and you tube vote counting.
Posted by: jon | January 3, 2012, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
I’m glad Ron Paul supporters are not double minded a double minded person is a confused person, like all the undecided Mitt voters they have not heard about the real Ron Paul because they’re busy listening to fox msnbc and CNN for their information. Ron Paul supporters will go out to vote today and he WILL win despite what you hear from the msm, they don’t like freedom and liberty they love wars they hate Ron Paul and all his supporters because we are anti government that’s okay it’s going to feel so good to see that stupid look on your face when Ron Paul wins it all. Vote Ron Paul and bring back the middle class from the poor
Posted by: Chris | January 3, 2012, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
Ron Paul all the way.
Posted by: Kel | January 8, 2012, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
JOIN THE REVOLUTION VOTE FOR RON PAUL 2012
Posted by: SHANE | January 9, 2012, 11:45 pm 11:45 pm
Actually, the American Voters and Miltiary are “teaching the Establishment Lobbyist, War Mongering, Military Industrial Complex, ran by Chicken Hawks that were to scared to serve their country”, but ….YET, WILL PROFIT OFF DEAD AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS WITH USELESS WARS.
Posted by: jose | January 17, 2012, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm