November 15, 2007
Dr. Spoiler?
DIXVILLE NOTCH -- During Ron Paul's two-day retail tour this week of New Hampshire's North Country, he stressed several points:
a. He is mad for the Constitution. If it's not in there, he doesn't want to legislate it. Think health care.
b. He is against the war in Iraq. And as the only GOPer to oppose President Bush's policies, his campaign presents a clear view -- get the troops out, now. And while you're at it, Paul said, remove any remaining troops from Japan or Europe or anywhere else the U.S. has tried to bolster local forces over the last half century. Even Israel.
"I believe it is our presence over there that causes so much hatred," Paul said this week, at a Colebrook house party, of U.S. involvement abroad.
c. Guns are okay by Paul. Abortion is not.
"It's pretty hard for me after delivering 4,000 babies to think I'm not dealing with life."
d. Integrity. Sincerity. Credibility. He has it, the others don't, Paul told voters.
e. He is promoting "the cause of freedom." One translation -- no income tax. A very popular position in tax-averse NH.
"My message is very simple, more freedom, less government," he said.
Voters in New Hampshire's northernmost towns appeared pleased to meet Paul. From Dixville Notch and North Conway to Litchfield and Littleton, Paul sold himself as an alternative to the status quo politics of both parties. He regaled voters with the tale of his record-breaking $4.2M Internet fundraiser. And he said that he is running for the GOP nomination because he understands that candidates are forced to work within the two-party system. That it's harder to mount a viable challenge as an independent.
And judging from the crowds at his event, it's just as difficult, perhaps, to pinpoint which types of voters are being drawn to Paul. Though one thing is certain, he is a draw; a recent CBS poll shows him running fourth in NH at 8 percent -- and, more importantly, threatening to mess with John McCain's comeback potential here.
Some possible Paul supporters IDed themselves as Dems but said that they can't stand frontrunner Hillary Clinton and are shopping around. Others said they haven't voted in years or have traditionally written in no-name protest candidates. Still others said there's no discernable difference between the GOP and Dem frontrunners and that they view Paul as an alternative.
"To have this man in my house is to me one of the most incredible things in the world," said Colebrook Selectman Larry Rappaport, a transplanted New Yorker who supported McCain's bid in 2000 but hosted the house party for Paul. "He stands for every single thing I believe in. I'm probably as surprised as anyone at how well he's doing."
Paul, 72, is being backed by undeclared voters Timothy and Gloria Burchett of West Stuartstown. Undeclared voters -- who make up 45 percent of those registered to vote in the 2008 NH primary, according to Secretary of State Bill Gardner -- are the unknown factor here and could turn state polling on it's head.
After watching him on television and at the debates, Timothy Burchett, who runs a traveling nurse company, said he felt Paul was the only candidate in the race who would not "sway in the wind."
"I called up his office and said, 'Where's this guy from?'" he said.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted at 11:16 AM
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