Already Republican or only did so for Ron Paul?

[Rob]

A note of caution about this thread.


I've done A LOT of work for the campaign in Michigan and have met many different supporters. I can say with certainty that in Michigan, the majority of Ron Paul supporters are Republicans or disaffected Republicans. The majority are also Christians.

These boards are NOT representative of who is voting for us.

I'd estimate (from Michigan) we have about 65% of some type of Republicans making up our voters and about 75% Christians. The number of truthers that support Ron Paul is also very low I'd estimate about 10 to 15 percent. Again this is from my experience in Michigan.

If you looked at these forums, you'd think the majority were liberal atheists, and that may well be true about these forums, but now out in the real world.

I'd also like to add there are major discrepancies between the average Ron Paul voter and the "hardcore supporters"

Atheists, marijuana activists, peace activists, and truthers make up a disproportionate part of our "hardcore" supporters.

This is all very important and you need to think about the big picture. If we run independent, you can expect everyone on the forums and all the hardcore supporters to still supporter Ron Paul, but we're going to lose a substantial chunk of our base. If you think that people who already vote for Ron Paul won't vote for the Republican nominee, you haven't been talking enough to our casual voters, and believe me we have MANY of them.

 

[colecrowe]

Thank you for the good, reasoned post. Great info. But I disagree with you saying that we will lose "substantial support". We don't have substantial support. We have like 8% support--at the VERY most (average it out--and be realistic--you will agree it's 8% at the very most--and it's way too late for a brokered convention).

I disagree and don't think we get support mainly from christian/republican types--I think that is unique to your experience--and besides, that ground obviously isn't that fertile compared to other, broader ground--just look at our results, even in Michigan, your example. But, also, I absolutely have never thought we would get our support from pot smokers, truthers, etc.

Our support comes, and will come in a HUGE way if we go iNDY, from people who are anti-war, pro-constitution, and most importantly TIRED OF BEING LIED TO, TIRED OF LOBBYISTS, AND HUNGRY FOR THE TYPE OF STATESMAN ONLY RON PAUL IS.

People will vote for Ron Paul for his record that is so amazing, and so different, even if they disagree with some of his stances. Proof: The same exact thing made me, my wife, my father-in-law, father, grandpa-in-law, and on and on (including many family members I never proselytized to!) choose Paul: HIS HONESTY--the fact that he's not a "politician" like ALL the others. Once they hear that he has never gotten lobbyist money, never changed his stances, AND ONCE THEY HEAR HIM SPEAK, they are hooked.

But not the GOP sheep--the pro Iraq war types. That is why we have to get out of the GOP.

If we go iNDY, we will also get all the anti-war GOPers. Plus, we might get more GOPers than that if McCain is the nominee--because of immigration and character (he cheated on his wife and is married to his mistress now).

Plus, we haven't got to capitalize on running anti-war ads, especially with veterans in them supporting him. We need to make a much bigger deal about the amazing amount of money he raised from military members (more than all the Republicans put together) in ads, etc.

We also haven't capitalized on his being an Obstetrician for 30 years, and so much more. His name recognition is extremely dismal--we need a fresh start with exposure in every state--not just those left in the GOP race.

A note of caution about this thread.


I've done A LOT of work for the campaign in Michigan and have met many different supporters. I can say with certainty that in Michigan, the majority of Ron Paul supporters are Republicans or disaffected Republicans. The majority are also Christians.

These boards are NOT representative of who is voting for us.

I'd estimate (from Michigan) we have about 65% of some type of Republicans making up our voters and about 75% Christians. The number of truthers that support Ron Paul is also very low I'd estimate about 10 to 15 percent. Again this is from my experience in Michigan.

If you looked at these forums, you'd think the majority were liberal atheists, and that may well be true about these forums, but now out in the real world.

I'd also like to add there are major discrepancies between the average Ron Paul voter and the "hardcore supporters"

Atheists, marijuana activists, peace activists, and truthers make up a disproportionate part of our "hardcore" supporters.

This is all very important and you need to think about the big picture. If we run independent, you can expect everyone on the forums and all the hardcore supporters to still supporter Ron Paul, but we're going to lose a substantial chunk of our base. If you think that people who already vote for Ron Paul won't vote for the Republican nominee, you haven't been talking enough to our casual voters, and believe me we have MANY of them.

 

[HippyChimp]

Raised a Republican, woke up to thier lies and by the time I reached voting age I was a Libertarian. Registered Republican a couple months ago to vote for Paul here in NH. Will vote for Paul regardless of his party affiliation.

 

[mudhoney]

I was registered independant previous to voting for Ron Paul in Iowa. I had voted Democratic for several federal offices (to punish the neocons). Locally I've mostly voted Libertarian and Republican.

I had always found myself agreeing with most of the republican platform, but I realized none of them seem to follow it. Now that I've found Ron Paul, I'm glad to register republican.

 

[Brian in Maryland]

I have been registered Republican for close to 30 years. I have been waiting a long time for someone like Dr. Paul to come along. He is my hero. If he does not get the Republican nomination I will be leaving the party and going independent.

 

[azzuth]

i was so very disheartened that no politician ever told me anything i felt i could believe, even for a second. I was sick of seeing them say one thing one day and the opposite the next and NOONE calling them out on it. I stuck my head in the sand and cried for my country, well I have pulled my head out and realized that nothing will change if smart people continue to do nothing. The idiots have controlled the show long enough, it is time for a change. (And not jus the word change like Obama and Hilary tout. Real change, viva la rEVOLution!)

 

[LibertyRevolution]

Hope this poll helps people understand that RP base is not the GOP.

 

[colecrowe]

Hope this poll helps people understand that RP base is not the GOP.

You get it!

 

[barbz]

I'm totally embarrassed to say that I was a Democrat sheeple... always voted a straight Dem ticket without even look at who and what for. My god, I was sound asleep at the wheel.

 

[Satyricon]

Was Libertarian. Might switch back. Have yet to decide either way.

Luckily I haven't gotten any nauseating GOP fundraising calls/letters yet, which probably would've made my decision easier.

 

[colecrowe]

exactly 1/3 republicans here so far

 

[colecrowe]

bump

 

[jsu718]

Voted in 1996 for Dole, and Bush as Governor. Both were better than the alternatives. Voted in 2000 for Bush... better than the alternative. Realized in 2004 that voting against both Democrats and Republicans was best for America, and voted for Badnarik. The world has changed for me ever since. I see the lies for what they are and the parties for what they are. I spend most political conversation now talking about how both parties are only power hungry and spending-happy.

 

[LittleLightShining]

I've been registered Independent since I could vote and only just joined the GOP last week. Even though I'm in an open primary state, I want the Republicans I talk to to take me seriously. And I'm really inspired to get involved on a local level and change the party from the inside out.

ETA that I am a Christian, if that matters.

 

[DanFreh]

I am a young voter (25) but have always been in to politics. I was swayed by my fathers point of views and registered republican. I voted for Bush in 2000. after the horror of his first term I was completly turned off by politics altogether, I couldnt stand Kerry and there was no way in hell I was voting for Bush. Then I found the Libertarian party and loved what they were saying. so I voted for Badnarik in 2004 I havent changed my party(and Im glad I didnt so didnt have to go through the bullshit of voting this year)

 

[colecrowe]

still only exactly 1/3 Republicans

 

[pcosmar]

I am an Independent voter. That was not an option so I did not vote.
I do not belong to a party, though I have leaned towards the Republicans in the past.
This constant push towards the GOP and the lack of any real difference between them is souring me on Parties in general.
I am an American.
I will vote FOR America and against Globalism.

 

[Mandrik]

I voted "third party" but my voter registration card said Unaffiliated until I changed to Republican for RP. I planned on staying Republican, but I'm so disgusted by the way the GOP treats RP. Maybe he's a Republican for life because he was once part of the party when his platform was their platform, but I wasn't. I'm 27 years-old, and those "glory days" of the party are gone. I don't want to be a part of their neo-con agenda. I'm sure when this is all over I will be right back to being unaffiliated.

 

[yongrel]

I was an unaffiliated libertarian.

Before Ron Paul, I was very politically aware, but I mostly sat on the sidelines and bitched. Now, I'm taking action.

 

[all J's in IL for RP]

Hope this poll helps people understand that RP base is not the GOP.

You get it!

Far from it. Your poll seems to be proving you wrong, Colecrowe.

Those that are (R)epublican, affiliate with the republican party or are recently reactivated republican trending voters are pulling over 50%, and I suspect a great many of the 3rd party types, as with the poster two up, have flirted with the Republican party in the past. A good portion of the parents of the Dems, as well, probably went for Reagan.

And, as stated by Rob, this board is not representative of our core voter base. You can check the exit polling data for verification, instead of simply denying it. So the percentage received here is skewed towards the bottom of your poll. And the results and exit polls do not at all reflect those in the party who look favorably upon our guy, but for some reason or another, mainly the question of viability within the primary process, didn't vote for him.

You people taking the first opportunity to jump ship on the Republican party are abandoning the fight against the Neo-con wing. The plan is for a brokered convention, and I still see it as a distinct possibility. Romney has not dropped, as many of you thought he would today. Huckabee isn't going anywhere, despite what you all have been saying for months. And the party is about to take a long, cold, hard look at who the front-runner is and panic. Talk radio has been ripping McCain for a month and a half. For those unfamiliar with the process, in brokered conventions, anything can happen. This may or may not be the nomination, but as delegates are freed and sympathizers affiliate with Paul, our message within the party is magnified beyond the percentages thus far gained in the open primaries. This could be the seminal event for our movement to take back a large portion of the party. But if his troops abandon the fight before we can even get to St. Paul, it could very well die there.

And make no mistake that some of those trying to lead you OUT of the party are, in fact, doing so with the purpose of facilitating the entrenchment of the neo-con wing. This is an open board, and we know we have been infiltrated.