Ron Paul In Second Place In Iowa?
That’s what Patrick Ruffini is saying. Hugh Hewitt, on the other hand, is skeptical:
Patrick’s worries below about Ron Paul’s supporters picking up the “strategic” votes of the disappearing McCain effort etc overthinks the situation in Iowa, and the tide of the early contests generally. Winning is winning, and if Romney wins in either Iowa or New Hampshire, he’s the conservative to beat in Florida. Beat him in both and he’s almost certainly done. But a silver medal for Ron Paul in Iowa is about as significant as the innards of a pigeon.
Anyone thinking Ron Paul has a real shot at the GOP nomination is a fool. On the other hand, however, Ron Paul poses a very real threat to run as an independent. And that’s why he’s a threat. If he runs, he could siphon off enough votes from the mainstream GOP candidate (a la Nader in 2000) to put a Democrat in office.
Which is probably why Rep. Paul, a limited government/low tax guy despite his other nuttiness, counts so many died-in-the-wool liberals among his devotees.
