Awesome Time Article on the #RandRally

[Jonderdonk]

htxp://time.com/4181893/republican-debate-rand-paul-twitter-rally/

After losing his spot on the main stage at Thursday’s Republican debate, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was not happy — so he skipped it entirely and hosted his own event on Twitter.
The Republican presidential candidate was protesting being moved from the main stage to the 6 p.m. undercard at the Fox Business debate. After a two-day media tour of New York City giving interviews — all hinged upon his skipping the debate — Paul holed up at the Twitter offices and answered user questions on Periscope video livestream, calling the event the Rand Rally.


Eschewing the debate stage for a virtual exchange was a bold move, but it paid off for Paul — at least on social media. Amongst all candidates, regardless of party, Paul added the second most followers, according to Twitter Government, and #RandRally was the fourth highest trending hashtag in the United States.
The event also served as a fundraiser of sorts for Paul — he periodically sent messages linking to his Square Cash page for donations. Paul responded to a tweet from Wired Magazine about his follower growth saying, “I’m thinking we should tell them in advance that we’re not showing up to any more of their stupid debates.”


Paul, who complained at previous debates about speaking time, talked all he wanted to viewers during the over two years that he wasn’t on stage. “I refuse to be banned, and I refuse to be silenced,” Paul said in a preview video. “Instead, I’ll take my message directly to the people.”
He wasn’t entirely absent from the main debate however — just over two hours into the event, a group of supporters briefly interrupted the show, loudly chanting “We want Rand!”

 

[r3volution 3.0]

 

[dusman]

It's starting to look like it. Hell, after skipping this one.. I'm even more excited that he'll make the January 28th stage and be able to say "I'm back. Ready for some sanity yet?" just before Iowa.

 

[Kotin]

this has been pretty crazy but the whole thing almost has a sort of synchronicity feel to it.. the timing of certain things and how it has turned out for us along with Cruz being assaulted and him and trump looking completely foolish tonight.. the timing before iowa is very interesting.. almost a perfect storm that has a ton of potential to manifest..

it may not, but I really feel something there.

 

[hells_unicorn]

this has been pretty crazy but the whole thing almost has a sort of synchronicity feel to it.. the timing of certain things and how it has turned out for us along with Cruz being assaulted and him and trump looking completely foolish tonight.. the timing before iowa is very interesting.. almost a perfect storm that has a ton of potential to manifest..

it may not, but I really feel something there.

Even if we don't pull it out this election, we took and stand and we did the right thing. It's a moral victory, but it's a complete victory compared to cowering down and simply accepting the crumbs that the RNC throws us. I'm proud of what Rand has done, and I hope he continues down this path up until Iowa.

 

[derek4ever]

 

[randomname]

Some of his responses:

https://twitter.com/i/moments/687828829478334464

 

[Jackie Moon]

Paul, who complained at previous debates about speaking time, talked all he wanted to viewers during the over two years that he wasn’t on stage.

Glad I didn't tune in to that debate.

It's starting to look like it. Hell, after skipping this one.. I'm even more excited that he'll make the January 28th stage and be able to say "I'm back. Ready for some sanity yet?" just before Iowa.

this has been pretty crazy but the whole thing almost has a sort of synchronicity feel to it.. the timing of certain things and how it has turned out for us along with Cruz being assaulted and him and trump looking completely foolish tonight.. the timing before iowa is very interesting.. almost a perfect storm that has a ton of potential to manifest..

it may not, but I really feel something there.

I agree. It's all playing out in a way that you can see really helping Rand, and at the exact right time.

The benefit of being seen as missing this debate is that when he makes the next one it will show him having upward momentum.

It's not something you would have planned, but if you were going to miss any of the debates this would have been the one... then come back and rock the last one right before the vote.

And the benefit of having been polled at only 5% in Iowa is that whatever he gets in the caucus above that will be seen as a "surge" and him beating expectations.

A candidate that goes in with 5% but finishes with 17% is looked at a lot differently than a candidate that went in with 30% and finishes with 17%. It's all about which direction your momentum is taking you... is your campaign surging or sliding.

 

[MarcusI]

And the benefit of having been polled at only 5% in Iowa is that whatever he gets in the caucus above that will be seen as a "surge" and him beating expectations.

3-5% actually atm. But still 2 weeks to go.