[WFTR]

So much for the naysaysers who said that the Paul campaign had peaked. What was amazing to me was how little enthusiasm was showed by backers of the other candidates including Mitt and Thompson. It is clear that Paul's campaign has staying power.

I think you are over-interpreting the results. The Republican Assemblies groups are not the official party. They do some good things, but they are just a social club outside the party. This event, like many straw polls, was a fundraiser, and not every campaign is going to make a big effort to participate in every fundraiser. The Iowa straw poll is significant because many campaigns make an effort to win in Iowa, and the straw poll is a good indicator of strength throughout Iowa. How many times has this event been held in the past? How many of the winners of this event have gone on to win the Alabama primary? If you can show that correlation, you have a good case for this one being meaningful. If not, you are a ways from being able to make that argument.

I congratulate you on being able to assemble over 200 of Dr. Paul's supporters to spend their money to show support for Dr. Paul. I haven't checked his campaign finance reports in a while, but if his supporters are being generous and giving to his campaign beyond these straw polls, that's another good sign for him. Another issue is whether these people are willing to knock on doors and make phone calls for Dr. Paul. If they are willing to participate in those parts of the process, they could help move things in Dr. Paul's favor.

Bill

[specsaregood]

Another issue is whether these people are willing to knock on doors and make phone calls for Dr. Paul. If they are willing to participate in those parts of the process, they could help move things in Dr. Paul's favor.

Indeed we are. Countless man hours are being spent doing just what you describe. And almost all of it is being done completely unknown and unorganized by the official campaign. The grassroots support is enormous.

Or as Ron Paul said in his interview with Tom McClintock, "It's really unbelievable what is going on and something I never anticipated. The campaign is not our campaign. It is their campaign and I have more or less joined them."

From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onckGDwPPac This interview is really good and Ron Paul discusses how strong the grassroots support is.