GOP presidential contender Ron Paul is continuing to gain momentum in key states such as Iowa, where the Texas Congressman has found support in niche groups such as the Christian homeschoolers, a group said to have helped Mike Huckabee claim a surprising victory in 2008.
Steve and Cindy Anders, leaders of the Iowa Christian homeschool group, have thrown their support behind Congressman Paul, endorsing his drive for a return to the drastically smaller constitutional form of government.
The New York Times notes the significance of Pauls support from such groups:
In a year when the Republican field is unusually fractured, with front-runners coming around as often as carousel ponies, Mr. Pauls ability to mobilize niche groups like home-schoolers may make a big difference. His campaign, which has won a number of straw polls and is picking up momentum, has demonstrated its ability to organize and mobilize supporters, which is particularly relevant in Iowa, where relatively small numbers can tip the scales in the caucuses.
Paul has received a significant amount of support from homeschooling families. Anders explains the reason for Pauls popularity among his group: Home-schoolers are really independently-minded. [Paul] believes the federal government has no role in education, as most home-schoolers will agree.
Paul has also found growing support in other niche groups such as small business owners and college-age students.
Typically, Paul has held fast at approximately 10 percent support, but in Iowa, that figure has grown, placing him in a dead heat against other GOP contenders Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Herman Cain.
Pauls Iowa campaign has been expertly run, portraying him as the sole consistent candidate among his flip-flopping counterparts. According to a Bloomberg News poll, two-thirds of Iowa respondents have been contacted by his representatives, either via email, phone, or door-to-door canvassing.
Weve been out-hustling the other campaigns, notes Jesse Benton, Pauls national campaign manager.
Likewise, Pauls amazing results in online fundraisers have contributed to his current success in Iowa. The New York Times reports:
Because of strong fund-raising from small donors on the Internet, the campaign has been able to saturate the Iowa airwaves with ads. It has outspent all others $2.5 million on TV and radio commercials in Iowa and New Hampshire (where a Bloomberg poll had Mr. Paul in second place this week behind Mr. Romney). It plans to spend $4 million more before the voting in those two states begins in less than two months.
Pauls campaign has focused on his proposals to make significant cuts to government spending, with little mention of his foreign policy stance, as that has been his toughest sell.
Pauls campaign has been so effective thus far that it has some considering a possible Paul victory in the January 3 Iowa caucus. Two state polls show Paul tied for first, one of which was released on Monday, showing Paul with 19 percent of likely Republican caucus voters.
Im buying Ron Paul today, said Craig Robinson, a former political director for the Republican Party of Iowa, who on Wednesday sent this Twitter message: Ron Pauls Iowa Campaign Office was abuzz at 8 p.m. tonight when I drove by on my way to the bank. Impressive.
Chuck Walsh, an employee of G.M.-Toyota dealership in Carroll, Iowa, and a former Romney supporter, explains that he recently converted to Pauls camp because Romney simply was not proposing the required cuts needed to reduce the federal government. It was not an easy conversion for Walsh. I dont think I was his core type, the young college type, he said. The reaction is, Oh, the guy is fringe, hes crazy. People tell me, Youre throwing away your vote. I said to myself: Chuck, you wore the uniform, you fought for the right to vote. If youre voting with your heart, I dont think youre throwing away your vote.
Part of Pauls success in Iowa is his ability to split the social conservative vote, and the fact that for most voters this year, economic issues have taken precedence over social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Still, many Republican strategists view Pauls success and popularity as minor setbacks for the other contenders. I dont think hes going to be the nominee, said Steve Roberts, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. But hes certainly in a rarefied atmosphere for him.
Tim Albrecht, a top aide to Gov. Terry E. Branstad of Iowa, said, His biggest hurdle is his foreign policy piece. I figured hed get 16 percent in the caucuses. Right now hes polling around 20 percent. Thats enough to be in the hunt this year because its so splintered and wide open. But hes got to continue expanding his message to collect more voters.
Paul has garnered support from some unlikely sources.
Lynn Rinderknecht, an organic farmer from Iowa who gets most of her views from neoncon pundits such as Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, indicates, Im kind of leaning toward Ron Paul.
Lucy Reese, an independent with more liberal stances, favors Paul because of his focus on the currency system and on auditing the Federal Reserve. I am reluctant to commit to anybody,” she asserted, “but if I had to pick, Id pick Ron Paul.
