Primaries
AK: Could Ron Paul Win?
By Christopher Lee
Ron Paul will not merely do well in Alaska's GOP presidential caucuses, his supporters say. They believe the Texas congressman and well-known libertarian can top the field.
"We expect to win up here," said Matthew Peters, a lifelong Alaskan and the Paul campaign's state field director. "Alaska tends to go for the anti-establishment candidates or the alternative candidates, whatever you want to call them. I think we have a great chance."
Paul's brand of politics -- which favors gun rights, a strict interpretation of the Constitution, lower taxes and smaller government -- goes down well in a remote state with a strong libertarian streak, Peters said.
Alaska GOP voters have a history of unconventional picks for the presidential nomination. They chose Pat Buchanan in the Republican straw poll in 1996 and Pat Robertson in the party's caucuses in 1988. Business mogul Steve Forbes nearly beat George W. Bush in 2000.
Turnout at the GOP caucuses is usually low, which Peters said will be a boon to Paul. The Paul campaign has 13 paid staffers in the sate, has offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks and, unlike its competitors, has been running ads on radio and television.
"Turnout is key," Peters said. "We've got a nice list of supporters, and if they turn out we're going to swamp it. If 50 percent show up, it'll be pretty close. We're pretty optimistic."
As for the other GOP hopefuls, Mitt Romney has the backing of Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell (R), and one of Romney's sons campaigned in the state last week. Mike Huckabee's wife was in Alaska over the weekend, and Huckabee has the backing of Rep. Don Young (R), who was congressional chairman of Huckabee's presidential exploratory committee.
John McCain, the national front-runner, has not endeared himself to many Alaska Republicans with his opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and his ties to Americans for Gun Safety, a nonprofit group that supports tougher gun laws, said Peters.
The biggest obstacle for voters may be the weather. At midday it was 3 degrees in Anchorage and minus 33 in Fairbanks.
Posted at 6:30 PM ET on Feb 5, 2008
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Comments
Posted by: archhistorian | February 6, 2008 12:49 AM | Report abuse
Perhaps not a lot of people in Alaska have Internet access and haven't read about Paul's viciously racist newsletters that he put out over many, many years.
But I doubt it.
Posted by: info | February 5, 2008 9:53 PM | Report abuse
Yeah, Alaska is far enough away to not be aware Dr. Ron Paul is known as Doctor NO. Anyone who is even remotely aware of his reputation would NEVER want a Contrarian Supreme like Him as our President!
Congratulations to all the "Change" minded Paulites and Huckleberries out there who by supporting their LOSING Causes are making sure McClown(Of the 11% approved Congress) gets the Nod, and ZERO Change will ever occur-Except for the Wars with Iran and Venezuela(Possibly Pakistan, N. Korea, Half of Africa, China, Russia and anyone else who McPain dislikes!).
McPain as a "Peacetime" President...
LMFAO!
Posted by: rat-the | February 5, 2008 9:32 PM | Report abuse
Ron Paul should be heard - He carries enough votes to swing a state in the Electoral College. He is mostly wrong in interpretation - but he demonstrates the frustration with voters.
Ohg
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/02/04/ron-paul-is-dead-wrong/
Posted by: glclark4750 | February 5, 2008 8:25 PM | Report abuse
I have grown weary of media coverage this election cycle, especially with regard to the blackout of Paul coverage.
The POST, CNN, FOX, you name it, are all calling the primary results based purely on their own exit poll data and not by VOTES, which we won't know 'til late tonight or tomorrow AM. It is disgusting, and it won't last... I think we are witnessing the beginning of the end of our shabby electoral system.
Posted by: patrick4 | February 5, 2008 8:18 PM | Report abuse
Never has so much been made of 3% of the voters. What's the point of a Ron Paul canidacy? Republicans haven't heard of gun rights and small government before?
Posted by: barnardj1 | February 5, 2008 8:13 PM | Report abuse
The biggest obstacle for voters isn't the weather. It's the media. Both the New York Times and Washington Post omit Ron Paul's name from the list of contenders. The polls are still open! Whoever made those shameful decisions does not want voters to know that Ron Paul is still running. There has been an almost total blackout of Ron Paul's name that began a little over two weeks ago. Just google Ron Paul and look at the dates.
Posted by: jdadson | February 5, 2008 7:27 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
In response to the racist comment please inform yourself fully info at http://www.takimag.com/site/article/why_the_beltway_libertarians_are_trying_to_smear_ron_paul/ or Why the Beltway Libertarians Are Trying to Smear Ron Paul. Clearly Rat-the does not comprehend the significance of the sobriquet "Dr. No". Again, education needed. Barnardj1 guess you have not really heard the message, I suggest investigating Dr. Paul's positions at RonPaul2008.com.
If you were going to have surgery you would be required to give informed consent for the procedure. America, wake up! Educate yourselves and make an informed decision. Be a freeple, not a sheeple.