GREENVILLE, S.C. – Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is already looking past the South Carolina primary with plans to make the most of a few states that could be more receptive to his libertarian, Internet-driven message. Paul campaigned across seven South Carolina cities the day before Saturday's first-in-the-South primary, flying to a series of rallies in airports to tell voters he hopes his support for limited government and greater personal freedom will resonate in their state.
"We want a free society and a prosperous society, and we are on the verge of a victory for those issues today," Paul said in Greenville.
His campaign announced that it had purchased a substantial ad buy in Nevada and Minnesota, two states holding caucuses next month. His advisers are crafting a strategy built on President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign model, urging supporters to organize themselves online and show up at caucuses to gain a significant number of delegates.
Paul planned to largely skip Florida, which holds its primary Jan. 31.
Paul had a limited presence in South Carolina compared to weeks of heavy face-to-face campaigning in Iowa, where he placed third behind Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney, and in New Hampshire, where he came in second to Romney.
The Texas congressman participated in two nationally televised debates in South Carolina but hosted few campaign events. He even left the state for a full day Wednesday to fly back to Washington to cast a symbolic vote against raising the debt ceiling.
Paul's message found some traction in South Carolina, but his call to vastly cut military spending has its limits in a state home to many military bases and veterans. Still, his advisers believe Paul's loyal base of supporters could push him past Rick Santorum and into a solid third place finish behind Romney and Newt Gingrich.
This is the hog wash that Americans are fed by FOXNEWS. It covers little about the truth of and about Ron Paul's itinerary other than to suggest that he has dodged SC and shall also do the same in Florida. But, notice, that Dr. Paul HAS been involved with the debates in SC AND he has held several campaigns through the state. He has been in Washington DC doing his job FIRST throughout his busy campaign efforts.... not just a day about the federal budget either; he has attempted to rescind NDAA, with is a TROJAN HORSE to our freedoms.
But lookey here:
Mitt Romney to appear in Florida's GOP debate in Tampa on Monday By Danny Valentine, Times Staff Writer Posted: Jan 21, 2012 10:41 AM
TAMPA — Mitt Romney will be in Tampa on Monday night for Florida's first 2012 presidential primary debate, his campaign told the Tampa Bay Times Saturday morning.
The move comes after Romney was criticized by Newt Gingrich on Friday for not committing to the debate, hosted by the Tampa Bay Times, NBC News, National Journal and the Florida Council of 100.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be doing the debate on Monday," Romney said while campaigning Saturday morning in South Carolina, according to POLITICO. "Yeah, I'm in."
Romney will also participate in a second Florida debate Thursday in Jacksonville, campaign spokesman Ryan Williams said. The debate is sponsored by CNN, the Republican Party of Florida and the Hispanic Leadership Network.
"Governor Romney looks forward to participating in two spirited debates in Florida and showing Sunshine State voters why he is the strongest candidate to defeat President Obama and fix our economy," Williams said in an e-mail.
Monday night's debate at the University of South Florida in Tampa will be the 18th major debate of the primary, though just the second among the four remaining candidates – Romney, Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.
[Last modified: Jan 21, 2012 10:58 AM]
Romney (at the last minute) receives PRESS about attending FLORIDA's GOP debate on Monday. The fucking loser thought he was so GODAMNED GOOD that he marked off FLORIDA altogether and now decides to participate. Dr. Paul has planned attending all along.
What is the point? The press FUCKING LIES OUT ITS TEETH TO INTENTIONALLY BIAS VOTER's OPINIONS.
