Paul is Still a Favorite to Win the Republican Nomination
As the 2016 Presidential campaign continues into its unofficial “introductory” phase, many are overly anxious to write off the chances of Senator Rand Paul.
However, with only one debate having been completed and not a single vote yet cast, perhaps some are misguided in their analyses. Here are the top 7 reasons why Rand Paul will be the Republican nominee in 2016:
1. A lone voice of reason among a sea of group-think.
Among the 17 contenders for the Republican nomination, only Paul seems to be willing to consistently stray from the party-line on some very important issues which are being hotly debated within the GOP electorate, including the topics of NSA spying, foreign interventionism and the War on Drugs.
No matter how prevalent these more libertarian stances may actually be in more “conservative” circles, Paul remains the standard-bearer for quite a few issues which have otherwise been neglected by the Republican candidates. Once more coherent coalitions form based upon these topics, Paul will be able to distinguish himself as a voice rather than an echo.
2. Still the most interesting man in politics.
In October 2014, Time Magazine covered Senator Paul as a different kind of politician who threatened to change the structure of American politics. That message remains the case to this day.
Rand Paul, with his Ray-Ban sunglasses and dress-shirts tucked into blue jeans, is just the kind of person who can reinvigorate interest in public policy at a time when millennials (and plenty of others) feel that a breath of fresh air is so greatly needed. Paul seeks to assist in growing not just the Republican Party, but followers of libertarian orthodoxy in general.
3. Slow and steady wins the race.
It may seem cliché, but it remains a fact in Presidential primary politics that no race has ever been won in August. While it may be discouraging to see Senator Paul topped in polling by so many of his Republican competitors, these risers will no doubt face much more scrutiny as they become taken more seriously by news outlets. Meanwhile, Paul is able to “fly under the radar,” plodding along quietly as others commit unforced errors.
There have been far too many instances of candidates rising and falling in polling at this point to list them all, but history seems to suggest that precipitous gains over the course of campaigns are of much more importance than rapid skyrocketing to the top of the field. If Paul can steadily build upon his following, he will find himself in a good position once the first ballots are cast.
4. A bloated primary field awaits decongestion.
Americans love having an array of choices. However, if they are given too many, it can prevent them from making a commitment. There is perhaps no better example than this year’s Republican primary field. With 17 different candidates from very different backgrounds, paying attention to the contest in its early state is even more undesirable to many voters.
Once the also-rans (namely Pataki, Gilmore, Graham, Jindal, Santorum and Perry) leave the race and whittle the field down, Republicans will be able to take a stronger interest in a still very vast field of candidates. When this happens, Paul will be able to further exemplify his previously-mentioned unique stances and draw more voters into his corner as the rest split votes among various groups.
5. A ground game to which none can compare.
Particularly in the early states of New Hampshire, Iowa and Nevada, the Rand Paul campaign (as well as several Rand Paul Super PACs) have enlisted the help of some of the greatest minds in American politics. As the race drags on, a war of attrition will inevitably take hold, thus enabling the ongoing hard work to result in victories. This also includes the recently-announced Kentucky Caucus, which the Paul campaign worked to secure.
The candidate himself has been visiting Iowa and New Hampshire non-stop since launching his bid, picking up hundreds of endorsements in those key states along the way. When the dust settles and the votes are tallied, don’t be surprised to see Paul’s name near the top of the vote totals, thus leading to momentum that can last throughout the campaign.
6. The heir to a revolution.
In recent weeks, Rand Paul has more often coordinated with his father, receiving a written endorsement before wishing him a Happy Birthday and releasing a T-shirt honoring the elder Paul. While it is not yet determined how large of a role Ron Paul will play as the campaign progresses, there is no doubt that the legion of followers which he accumulated during his two Presidential runs will assist Paul among the grassroots.
While it may appear that there is some early disarray among former Ron Paul supporters, there should be little doubt that once the pieces fall into place, Senator Paul’s libertarian ideas will allow him to coalesce his father’s supporters around a banner of liberty. While Congressman Paul was unable to win any states in 2012, his backers will provide an excellent base of support upon which Senator Paul can build.
7. The most principled candidate…and the most electable.
It is the debate which has surrounded the Republican Party for decades: should the Party aim to stay true to its convictions, or should it attempt to win the election at any cost? Fortunately for the GOP, Rand Paul presents an opportunity to do both, thus enabling him to pick up voters from both schools of thought.
Much like his father, Paul is the most “conservative” candidate in the race. However, unlike many other candidates who are considered far-right (like Ted Cruz), Paul is extremely well-liked by Independents and even some Democrats; in fact, polling consistently shows that he has the best chance of winning in a general election match-up with likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Paul even has been shown to be polling ahead of Clinton in states like Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado.