Repubs: Ron Paul Heads the Pack

2012 REPUB PRESIDENTIAL PICTURE

• AP to skip GOP debate to protest FOX restrictions (The Associated Press, Sac Bee) Fox informed the AP and Reuters that it will only allow one still photographer into the debate at the start, when candidates shake hands, and that the photographer must leave when the debate begins. It also wants the single photographer to distribute the photos to all other media organizations.
• Huntsman's service in administration gets pass from some GOPers (By Michael O’Brien, The Hill/Blog Briefing Room) But in the week since resigning, Huntsman has rapidly accelerated his political activity. He established a federal political action committee, H PAC, to help build the framework of a possible campaign. And he's started to aggressively woo Republicans, particularly from New Hampshire and South Carolina, the two primary states where Huntsman is likely to focus his efforts if he runs.
• Ron Paul hauls more than $1 million (By ANDY BARR, Politico) Paul’s presidential exploratory committee alerted his supporters to the 24-hour online fundraising via email and social networks and were able to sit back and watch $1,028,436.56 roll in.
• Cain Was Able at the GOP's First Debate (By David Swerdlick, The Root) Herman Cain scored, Tim Pawlenty held, Mitt Romney was AWOL and Ron Paul was Ron Paul.
• Herman Cain shines, but he’s still a longshot (By Rachel Weiner, Washington Post/The Fix) Even before last night, Cain was popular with conservatives who remember him from the 1990s as an advocate against President Clinton’s health-care reform. He performed well against Clinton himself in a 1994 town hall meeting. He’s a business owner who turned around a failing franchise, Godfather’s Pizza, the kind of resume that appeals to Republicans now more than ever. His rhetorical style has been fine-tuned by years on the radio in Atlanta… While he’s popular with tea party voters, their impact in early states will be diluted by open primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

• THE RON PAUL MOMENT (by W. E. Messamore, CAIVN) Despite the moderators' pleas for no applause, the audience vigorously applauded most of Ron Paul's answers, even including the hope he expressed that with Osama bin Laden's death, America might reevaluate its wars in Central Asia, which Paul said haven't helped us and haven't helped anyone in the Middle East. Typically known for being somewhat dry and academic when he speaks, Ron Paul even drew two big laughs from the crowd. When asked if he had been eclipsed in the Tea Party movement by Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul elicited laughs by answering, "Well, she's not here tonight..."
•  NOTE: h/t to W.E. Messamore for the following links:
• Is This the Ron Paul Moment? (WRITTEN BY THOMAS R. EDDLEM , The New American (right libertarian) Representative Ron Paul established himself at the forefront of the Tea Party movement in the first Republican Presidential debate in Greenville, South Carolina. The debate has more and more establishment figures wondering if this might be the perfect political storm for the Texas congressman and obstetrician.

RON PAUL AT SC REPUBLICAN DEBATE 5/5/2011 VIDEO

• Ron Paul on legalizing drugs and gay marriage - SC Republican debate 5/5/2011
• Ron Paul says bring home the troops - SC Republican Debate 5/5/2011
• Ron Paul on torture, Gitmo, and foreign aid - SC Republican debate 5/5/2011
• CNN Poll: Still no front-runner in the battle for the GOP nomination (By: CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser, CNN) Who does best against Obama? Paul. The congressman from Texas, who also ran as a libertarian candidate for president in 1988 and who is well liked by many in the tea party movement, trails the president by only seven points (52 to 45 percent) in a hypothetical general election showdown. Huckabee trails by eight points, with Romney down 11 points to Obama.