Ron Paul Buys Time in Michigan, Potentially Boosting Romney
EmailRon Paul is once again going after Rick Santorum’s record as a fiscal conservative in a new ad, potentially giving Mitt Romney a boost in the process.
The 30-second ad titled “Fake,” which follows up a similar ad released in January, blasts Santorum for increasing the size of government by voting “to raise the debt ceiling five times,” “doubling the size of the Department of Education” and for voting “to send billions of our tax dollars to dictators in North Korea and Egypt.”
The ad even criticizes Santorum for hooking Planned Parenthood “with a few million bucks.”
The “Fake” ad is scheduled to begin airing this weekend in Michigan, which could provide a valuable boost to Mitt Romney, who is locked in a dead heat with rival Rick Santorum in that state.
Ron Paul and Mitt Romney reportedly have a friendly relationship, which Romney has worked to cultivate.
“I talk to Romney more than the rest on a friendly basis,” Paul told the New York Times.
The two are veterans of the 2008 Republican primary, and when Romney got himself into trouble in New Hampshire over his comments about leveraged buyouts, Paul came to his defense by issuing a press release assailing his rivals for taking Romney’s quote about firing people out of context.
And Paul rarely criticizes Romney on the stump but instead refers to him vaguely in mentions of “the governor’s millions made on Wall Street.”
Paul’s aides say publicly that the congressman is committed to winning the nomination.
And over the weekend, Paul said that his rivals “are part of the status quo and they are not change.
“They don’t want to really change anything. That’s what I’m offering,” said Paul.
But the Paul campaign’s announcement Tuesday that it has raised about $4.5 million in January is proof that the congressman has formidable financial resources for an extended nomination fight.
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Posted by: Cam | February 21, 2012, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Oh Jason.. I didn’t realize Paul had given up campaigning so he can spend his money on Romney’s campaign. Oh im guessing its just a play on the situation because obviously ron paul can’t be running for president himself. I replayed back the commercial and your right at the end it does say I am Ron Paul and I support this message for Romney. Congratulations on being completely unoriginal you are truly and modern day journalist. Don’t worry I only stumbled along this fiction article while checking the NEWS, now I will leave abc and continue doing that
Posted by: Nathan | February 21, 2012, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
This add isn’t going to help Mitt. The people that support Rick are doing so because they think he is different than Mitt. Ron Paul is pointing out that they are at best – the same. It’s clear to me that Ron Paul is the only one left standing without egg on his face.
Posted by: Bluegillmaster | February 21, 2012, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Ron Paul is here to stay. All the others go up and down, in and out, hear today gone tomorrow. Ron has never been the flavor of the month but he always there. The only change the others offer are new ideas to them but now they all are stealing Ron’s same old message of small government. They all see Paul ability to move people, even though the MSM won’t tell us that. They fear the truth and they see it day in and day out on the trail. Soon everyone will see it. Ron will win and he’s here to stay.
P.S. GOP, Rick Santorum? Are you kidding me? I can understand Cain and Newt, even Perry but Rick Santorum? If it’s not Paul it’s more Obama.
Posted by: Mike Toth | February 21, 2012, 8:24 pm 8:24 pm
Ron Paul’s support is growing at such a rapid pace, that soon everyone will be laughing at the trash the media keeps pumping out.
Posted by: BrianT | February 21, 2012, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
How could anyone be considering Romney or Santorum, when when have a candidate like Ron Paul running? It is so blatantly clear that Ron Paul stands out from the pack in a great way, not in a crazy way like the media would have us believe.
I am a Marine Corps Veteran 0311 and I will only vote for RON PAUL
Posted by: Liberty4all | February 21, 2012, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
I wouldn’t trust Romney with a hula hoop. Why would a man as wealthy as Romney want to be President? I could see it if he truly thought he could go in there and make some big changes. Only he does plan on making big changes at all. He is a cross between Obama, and Bush. He is a complete snake in the grass. What his true motives are I do not know, but I can assure you it’s not to help the average American.
Posted by: Tronset902 | February 21, 2012, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
Who pays these reporters? Somehow I get the idea he is writing to a third grader who’s mind he wants to change. You know ya can’t just say anything and have it make sense. Please don’t call yourself a writer.
Posted by: Donn | February 22, 2012, 5:43 am 5:43 am
Romney would have to do a complete flip flop on being a perpetual war adocate for Paul to want to support him. Not that Romney is not capable of doing a flip flop. But he would lose the neocon vote.
Posted by: Bob D | February 22, 2012, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
Talking Point 1: Ron Paul isn’t a serious candidate, and will never be elected. Avoid discussing further unless pressed.
Talking Point 2: If Ron Paul receives votes, it’s because of dissastified youth vote, most likely drug abusers and conspiracy theorists.
Talking Point 3: Never debate Ron Paul’s stances on undeclared wars or the Fed, call him crazy or racist instead.
Talking Point 4: If all else fails, try to link support for him to support for Romney. This will be viewed as extremely unattractive to conservatives and liberals alike.
Posted by: Gerald | February 22, 2012, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Ron Paul 2012. I am a Democrat but I don’t like the direction America is going. I think Ron Paul can help. I don’t side with a party, I side with political views. Plus the other Republican candidates are so fake I can’t stand it. The only care about themselves and their wallets and their big corporations. Ron Paul is for the middle class, the MAJORITY of America…..isn’t that a Democracy? Vote Ron Paul he will try something new, which is what we need!!!
Posted by: michelle | February 22, 2012, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
That’s alright if he boosts the RINO big government Romney. He can deal with him later on.
Go Ron Paul
Posted by: mayeeden | February 22, 2012, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
What it’s not ok for Ron Paul to run an honest ad about how Rick Santorum is not a conservative for his own benefit? It’s to benefit Romney, wow you journalists are really ignorant puppets. The sheep are awakening. I was at the Troops March for Ron Paul on Monday in DC, and we woke up another large group of people. You should have seen the people filming us from the streets and out of their car windows on their phones. It was so inspiring to see another entire group of people waking up. Of course you won’t see these types of marches on MSM. You would rather cover protests in other countries. Stop trying to spin things, Ron Paul’s numbers are growing by the second and the GOP is in for a rude awakening.
Posted by: Kate4RonPaul | February 22, 2012, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
PAUL/ROMNEY can beat OBAMA/BIDEN easily.
Romney has no fixed positions and can easily accept anything. He’ll be a great vice-president. Then he runs again in 2016.
Posted by: Neil Elliott | February 22, 2012, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
Wow abc is garbage! Just keep making up stuff,
Ron Paul will win!
Posted by: Rick | February 23, 2012, 10:13 am 10:13 am