Monday, May 26, 2008

The Obama-Paul connection

The NYT's Sunday Styles (better known as the sports pages for women) had an interesting piece on Ron Paul's diehard supporters. They have raised a phenomenal amount of money and continue to turn out at campaign rallies long after it is clear that their candidate is going nowhere. (Their enthusiasm, incidentially, nicely contradicts the assertion in "Freakonomics", which Polprint has just finished reading, that campaign contributors are clever enough to give to a candidate with a chance of winning.)

Ron Paul is generally presented as an irritation to McCain--as is Bob Barr, the newly coronated Libertarian party nominee who is hoping for Ron Paul's support.

But could Ron Paul also pose a threat to--or an opportunity for--Obama? Sure, Obama hasn't sung the praises of the gold standard, or said that the solution to environmental ills is property rights. But fundamentally, supporters of both are young, enthusiastic and anti-war. Some of the Ron Paul contingent's natural allegiances, therefore, might lie with Obama rather than McCain. Much will depend on Paul's plans--whether he endorses Barr, runs as an independent, or simply bows out.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

At least Obama has his head together on foreign policy. Ron Paul has given him a nod, not an endorsement, on that issue. I think a lot of Paul supporters will vote for Obama given the shabby treatment of Paul by the Republican regulars.

Beecham said...

great post, but Polprint, "sports pages for women"?! I don't know . . . I'm guessing you are trying to be provocative, right?

Kate said...

OK, that's the wedding announcements...

Gunner, I think you're right about Paul's supporters going to Obama rather than a Republican--though another possibility is that many of them simply may not vote.