[stevem]

The freewheeling tactics of his supporters have made the GOP candidate an Internet sensation and an unlikely phenomenon.

I think Howard Dean was once an unlikely phenomenon and an internet sensation. I think Howard may also have been a bit of a media creation, and at leat Ron Paul can't make the same claim.

Otherwise, I suspect Paul will make it about as far as Dean did.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Dean spent every penny he raised as soon as he received it from a donor. Ron Paul has been thrifty. It’s a huge difference between the two regarding Paul’s future if you’re trying to extrapolate.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The comparison to Dean is disingenuous. Dean still ran a top-down organization that gave marching orders to the grassroots, even paying for their expenses. Plus Dean had favorable MSM coverage in addition to using the Internet. Keep in mind that in 2003 the Internet didn't have YouTube, the blogs, MySpace, etc. just chat rooms & coordinating with other members through email.

Paul's support is spontaneous, his supporters are paying for their own materials on their own time, and he's receiving little media coverage, & the coverage he does receive is usually negative.