Now that we’re several weeks into the primary and caucus season and the voters are having their say, candidates are beginning to drop. Within the past week Dennis Kucinich, Duncan Hunter and Fred Thompson have each announced their withdrawal from the race. I don’t know enough about Hunter or Kucinich to say anything meaningful, but I was sad to see Thompson drop. I definitely understand, but I like him as a candidate.
Ron Paul seems to be inching upward ever so slowly, though it seems he hasn’t been able to convert his online popularity and fanatical supporters to a victory in the polls. Ever the optimists, Rudy Guiliani and Mike Gravel march on in spite of having three percent or less of the vote. I presume that they’re hoping super Tuesday will breathe life into their campaigns.
Well, Ron Paul’s problem is the lack of a qualified campaign staff, IMO. He has the money and the volunteers, but his men lack the political experience to turn that into ads, turnout, and votes. That’s the real reason we’ve not seen a Ron Paul Surprise so far.
Hi MicroBalrog, thanks for reading. Paul’s campaign staff… that hadn’t occurred to me, but I’ll bet there’s some degree of truth to that. I’ve been thinking that the people who support Paul are the same ones that are tired of politics as usual, and that don’t usually go to the polls (perhaps aren’t even registered to vote). In other words, their online fanaticism is the extent of their support. I could be wrong about that.
It may be me, but it seems at times that Ron Paul fans are more like a cult following than political supporters. I’m not saying it is a cult (although it wouldn’t surprise me it it was), but the actions of his supporters are more similar to cult members than political campaigners. Just MHO…take it as you will.