Ron Paul emerges as GOP's unlikely rock-star candidate

[kuzadd]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...ICS01/707180319

"The crowds he's drawing across the country are often an unusual mix of 20- and 30-something lefties and righties. Some are drawn to his beliefs. But many said that they admire him most for sticking to a clear set of principles, even if they disagree on some issues.

"He's consistent," said Jennifer Reilly, a 23-year-old student at the College of Southern Nevada who attended a recent rally here. "I actually believe everything he says."

Thus Paul has become the early surprise of the 2008 campaign.

Beyond the consistency, he is filling a void in a Republican field dominated by mainstream candidates who are reluctant to break ranks with President Bush. He's the only Republican who opposes the war in Iraq. ("We just marched in. We can just march out.")

Paul describes himself as a strict constitutionalist, but his views can be traced to the late Barry Goldwater, the 1964 GOP presidential nominee and father of the modern conservative movement.

As Paul puts it: "Freedom is popular."

Paul raised $640,000 in the first quarter of the year, a paltry sum compared with his party's front-runners. But when the second quarter closed last month, Paul had $2.4 million cash on hand, besting Arizona Sen. John McCain.

I'll bet no one is more surprised then the republicans!