Who's with Fred?
Unless we go to Fred's supporters and explain that and provide evidence, it doesn't mean jack, and Fred rides right into the nomination on Dr. Paul's coattails.
Fred is being looked to as the "savior" of the Republican party, the man to rescue the Republicans from the wilderness. Talk radio is buzzing with the concept of his candidacy, and you have to imagine there's some machinery behind that. One big thing which we have to overcome is the fact that alot of the Republican electorate is happy to just have their opinions handed to them by talk radio. That's how conservatism got warped into neo-conservatism in the first place. But, Fred is a flip-flopper on abortion and amnesty, and I think once that's exposed by other candidates support for him will decline.
As the war continues to sour (wait until the surge deadline passes) I think Ron's anti-war edge will dramatically strengthen him. Whatever Bush decides to do after September, I think it will help Ron Paul. The number one reason Ron Paul only polls at 2%, in my opinion, is because a large number of Republicans do not want to rethink the War on Terror. As much as many of them now dislike Bush, they are still convinced the Bush/neo-con approach to the WoT is the
only way. But with each passing month it becomes more and more apparent that this approach
is not working. Only Ron Paul offers
any change in course.
Not to mention Iran - I'm very worried we will be involved in a ground war in Iran before the 2008 election. But I think if we end up fighting two wars at once (Iran/Iraq), there will be an anti-war surge across the country like you wouldn't believe, and again, Ron Paul benefits.
Meanwhile, I think convincing the masses of the error of the neo-con approach is really the only way we will get widespread support among Republicans. There is, unfortunately, a sizable chunk of Republicans who can't, at this time, consider changing the approach of the War on Terror.
I think we will also be well-served by getting large numbers of non-Republican independents and even Democrats who are unhappy with their own top-tier candidates to register Republican and come onboard with Ron Paul.