examiner: Ron Paul supporters already out in force for 2012 Republican nomination

[muzzled dogg]

Karyn McDermott
Richmond Republican Examiner

Ron Paul supporters already out in force for 2012 Republican nomination
March 14th, 2011 2:55 pm ET

Richmond area Ron Paul supporters will be out in force Monday afternoon waving signs at the intersection of Pump and Broad from 4:30pm.

So why sign waving and why Ron Paul? The Examiner spoke with organizer Igor Prohorov who expects a decent turnout.

“Sign waving gets the message out to a lot of people in a short period of time, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Prohorov says it is hard to gauge the support for Congressman Ron Paul as a Republican candidate in the 2012 Presidential election because of the lack of substantive polls.

“It is hard to really know but Ron Paul’s message is really resounding with a lot of people,” Prohorov says. “Most of the people I know at work are tired of the wars, of the spending, and will not be voting for Obama next time.”

“The real challenge for Dr. Paul will not be Barack Obama, because only Ron Paul can take some votes from Obama’s base. For example, Ron Paul is very popular with young people and he is considered a hero by the anti-war movement and those who hold civil liberties dear. He is also popular with Independents,” enthused Prohorov, a long-time supporter of the libertarian conservative doctor from Texas.

“Everyone knows conservatives will not vote for Obama, so to beat Obama you have to be able to persuade those people I mentioned previously; that’s how you beat him!”

What about the other Republicans rumored to be running for the White House?

”No one else, whether it be (Mitt) Romney, Sarah (Palin), (Mike) Huckabee or (Herman) Cain…can win those key demographics. So, the real challenge for the Republican Party is how much do they really want to get Obama out of office?,” Prohorov asks.

“If the GOP refuses to change and come back to its roots, only they will be to blame for the re-election of Barack Obama.”

Congressman Ron Paul has a large support base in Virginia with his Virginian chapter of Campaign for Liberty one of the most active in the nation.

Dr. Paul attended the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention held in Richmond in October 2010, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd, signing books and posing for photographs.
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[Matt Collins]

Sign waving is ineffective. If it was effective we'd have President Paul in the White House right now.

 

[erowe1]

Sign waving is ineffective. If it was effective we'd have President Paul in the White House right now.

+1

 

[Aratus]

i think its a nice filler story all told, and yes...
matt collins is 100% correct about sign waiving!

 

[Jeremy]

Sign waving is ineffective. If it was effective we'd have President Paul in the White House right now.

It's pretty effective compared to sitting on your butt and doing nothing.

 

[Matt Collins]

It's pretty effective compared to sitting on your butt and doing nothing.

No, they are about the same in terms of productivity. The only difference is that people feel better about themselves when they're not on their butts.

Don't confuse "busy" with "productive".

If you wanted to do something productive, try organizing your precinct or building your county CFL group.

 

[Mahkato]

I don't know if it's ineffective. The problem is that it takes most people a year or two to realize what liberty is about. They may have first seen Ron Paul's name driving by a sign wave, and it might not be until months later before they ever hear of him again or start their research.

 

[Matt Collins]

I don't know if it's ineffective. The problem is that it takes most people a year or two to realize what liberty is about. They may have first seen Ron Paul's name driving by a sign wave, and it might not be until months later before they ever hear of him again or start their research.

Operating under the premise that you are seeking electoral victory, the only people that matter are likely Republican voters. You're best bet is to grow your local Campaign for Liberty county organization.

 

[Sic Semper Tyrannis]

I think it's all about canvassing (aka going door to door). You can really see progress after you meet and greet a thousand people in a day, and you easily invite people out to your local C4L meeting.

 

[eduardo89]

Isn't of sign waving people should be handing out fliers describing who Ron Paul is, what he stands for and how he compared to thr other candidates. Most Americans are too lazy to do thr research themselves. Even if they hear Ron Paul's name from a sign waving, they won't bother finding out who he is.

I like the idea of sign waving, but I think we should move to a method that more directly educates the general populace of RP and liberty.


Ps: happy birthday to Igor

 

[sailingaway]

I think it is very cool for spurring interest and letting Ron know people want him to run.

When points for canvasing are available, people will canvas.

 

[erowe1]

I don't think right now is the time for canvassing either. What we need to do at this stage is build the base of volunteers and donors, not voters. For that we really need to network in certain focused groups of likely supporters.

 

[enoch150]

Sign waving is ineffective. If it was effective we'd have President Paul in the White House right now.

It's effective in getting people to take an initial step into actively campaigning in more productive ways.

 

[Matt Collins]

It's effective in getting people to take an initial step into actively campaigning in more productive ways.

In terms of making people feel good about themselves then yes it is good.

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

Sign waving got those supporters an article in the local paper. That's good publicity.


Also, nice quotes from that RP group leader about independents and beating Obama in the general election.

 

[FreedomProsperityPeace]

What about the other Republicans rumored to be running for the White House?

"No one else, whether it be (Mitt) Romney, Sarah (Palin), (Mike) Huckabee or (Herman) Cain…can win those key demographics. So, the real challenge for the Republican Party is how much do they really want to get Obama out of office?," Prohorov asks.

I'm afraid a lot of Republicans would rather have Obama there rather than Ron Paul.

 

[Roxi]

Sign waving is ineffective. If it was effective we'd have President Paul in the White House right now.

I disagree. Sign waving doesn't win elections, that is true. However, if it weren't for sign waving, Ron Paul would be in the same position as any other no name candidate that has ever run in a presidential election. Ron Paul became as well known and popular as he did in part, because of sign waves. It also provides a way for supporters to get together socially without wasting a few hours having a potluck or something. I participated in plenty of sign waves in 07/08 and will continue to do so for the next election (if he runs). We gained many a supporter during our sign waves, I saw plenty of evidence of this with my own eyes. I do think they are low on the value scale, but not a complete waste of time IMO.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Sign waving is ineffective. If it was effective we'd have President Paul in the White House right now.

Sign waving is neither highly effective, nor ineffective. It is one thing to attempt to promote the type of tactics one believes is most effective, quite another to throw wet blankets on other's tactics as a means of promoting ones own. In fact, when I see such wet blankets thrown I can only think that the wet blanket throwers are ineffective at promoting their preferred tactics and resorting to the lamer tactic of putting down others to build up themselves...

Sign waving got those supporters an article in the local paper. That's good publicity.


Also, nice quotes from that RP group leader about independents and beating Obama in the general election.

How much is earned media worth?

 

[speciallyblend]

Sign waving is ineffective. If it was effective we'd have President Paul in the White House right now.

100% not true collins! maybe ineffective in your eyes but that is not true and you know it!! Yes they must become delegates etc etc, but sign waving is a huge thing!!

 

[erowe1]

Sign waving is neither highly effective, nor ineffective. It is one thing to attempt to promote the type of tactics one believes is most effective, quite another to throw wet blankets on other's tactics as a means of promoting ones own.

I generally agree with that. We have a really diverse group of supporters who all have different niches, and they need to be encouraged to fill whatever that niche is that really gets them excited as their way to help.

But I do think there is some cost in creating the impression in voters' minds that Ron Paul is the candidate who depends on people holding homemade signs on street corners.

Also, a lot of his supporters are young and just don't know what works and what doesn't, and they'd happily put their energy to whatever use it can do the most good if somebody with experience give them the guidance.