Ron Paul, the 76 year old member of the House of Representatives currently in the midst of a campaign for the nomination of the Republican Party in the 2012 Presidential Election, is capitalizing on his young core of voters to gain support, keeping him very much in the race for the nomination.
Paul is using his Libertarian views as a more moderate option to the staunch Conservatism that the Republican Party is supporting so heavily. Not only this, but many Democrats and non-affiliated voters could register as Republicans, so called “Blue Republicans” to vote or Paul during the primaries. Ron Paul’s starkly contrasting views about our government are intriguing many first-time voters and young people, who see such a drastic, radical change as a good possibility for our country. Many other young people gravitate to Paul’s policy against foreign occupation and involvement, and drug legalization stances. And yet still more young people like Paul’s plan to stick to the Constitution, and his minimal government involvement. These people like the fact that Ron Paul is putting domestic problems first and foremost in his campaign.
In the first two primaries this year, Paul has easily swept the vote of the under-30 population, receiving 46 and 48 percent of the vote in Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively, and has finished in the top three overall in both primaries. Most importantly, is that if Ron Paul does not win the Republican nomination, there is still the possibility that he makes a major impact as a third party candidate with this young support, a la Ross Perot or Ralph Nader.
With this young core of supporters, Ron Paul is making himself a very dangerous candidate for the Republican Party nomination for the presidency, and with Paul sitting right there ready to pounce, no candidate can sit calmly at the top of the polls.
Beats, Rhymes, and Life 