I have to disagree with that. Though it is true that Dr. Ron Paul was speaking his mind and saying things that were unpopular to the Republican establishment and mainstream voters in 2007 and 2011, he was still largely ignored by the mainstream media, unlike Donald Trump is this election cycle. It was Dr. Paul's message that was offensive and a stumblingblock to the GOP, the Media, and typical Republican voters, even when Dr. Paul was saying all of the things that apathetic citizens were agreeing with.
But in the end, though most people loved his being an outsider (like Trump is being portrayed now), those same people didn't "think that Ron Paul could win" because the mainstream media used polling and blackouts to inform voters that he couldn't win. The difference is that Donald Trump has the Media on his side because of his platform (which is textbook Neoconservativism) and his business acumen, not necessarily because of his attitude as being an outsider.
Sen. Paul has the unfortunate luxury of being a consistent and principled candidate like his father, but possessing a message that has become "holy water to vampires" in the Republican Party and their victims within the mainstream media outlets.