Ron Paul is a winner with second place in New Hampshire | Ana Marie Cox
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/ana-marie-cox-blog/2012/jan/11/ron-paul-is-a-winner-...
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Mitt Romney's emphatic win is less significant than Ron Paul's result. And what it signifies is a Republican party fragmenting.
Though Mitt Romney made history with the first non-incumbent's consecutive Iowa-New Hampshire victories in GOP history, Ron Paul's second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary is by far more significant when it comes to the future of the Republican party.
Paul is a candidate completely unlike any other in this field, and completely unlike any successful Republican candidate in recent memory. (He does remind me a little of Howard Dean, persona-wise.) His success may not be the triumph of substance over style, but it sure isn't a win for style.
When pundits or establishment Republicans dismiss Paul as a force, especially tonight, it is usually by noting that his supporters are not "real" Republicans. Perhaps that's a good thing. Yes, according to exit polls, most of Paul's support came from independents and those voting in a GOP primary for the first time, but Paul also got 20% of voters who have participated in Republican primaries before – not a lot, but second only to Romney. This is the kind of demographic combination that suggests growth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/ana-marie-cox-blog/2012/jan/11/ron-paul-...
Though Mitt Romney made history with the first non-incumbent's consecutive Iowa-New Hampshire victories in GOP history, Ron Paul's second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary is by far more significant when it comes to the future of the Republican party.
Paul is a candidate completely unlike any other in this field, and completely unlike any successful Republican candidate in recent memory. (He does remind me a little of Howard Dean, persona-wise.) His success may not be the triumph of substance over style, but it sure isn't a win for style.
When pundits or establishment Republicans dismiss Paul as a force, especially tonight, it is usually by noting that his supporters are not "real" Republicans. Perhaps that's a good thing. Yes, according to exit polls, most of Paul's support came from independents and those voting in a GOP primary for the first time, but Paul also got 20% of voters who have participated in Republican primaries before – not a lot, but second only to Romney. This is the kind of demographic combination that suggests growth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/ana-marie-cox-blog/2012/jan/11/ron-paul-...
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I'm not a Paulista but I find this opinion piece by Anna Mare Cox quite an interesting take on the real impact of Ron Paul on Republican politics.
- 5 months ago
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