Texas Representative Ron Paul is the candidate that other Republican candidates for president hate to hear speak. He has broad appeal to the average voter in many states and has voted his conscience regardless of its popularity. From a grass roots campaign run mostly from the internet trenches and online supporter's web logs, Paul is showing signs of life in many voter polls.
After hovering near the bottom of the GOP polls most of the year, according to polls at http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/, Paul is rising into the five and six percent range as his speeches are broadcast on the internet. His talk of less government intrusion and elimination of the income tax is starting to produce many new followers.
His popularity in Iowa has greatly improved from only one percent in March, at the start of the primary battle, to five percent in early December polls. He even took his opinion on abortion to national television on The View. While still not considered a serious threat by the national media or the other top tier candidates, The Texas Republican is forcing is influencing the dialogue of the leading candidates.
Many consider his campaign simply symbolic, similar to his participation on the Libertarian ballot in 1988, but his outspoken manner has made him a favorite through the grass roots efforts by many internet supporters, from which most of his campaign contributions originate.
