'Mischief' voters push Ron Paul to front of Iowa GOP race

[cowcommander]

Ron Paul is surging in the Republican presidential race. Just not among Republicans. The Texas congressman is leading some polls in Iowa and is in a tie for second in New Hampshire. Who are Ron Paul's supporters? Are they, in fact, Republicans? In an analysis accompanying his most recent survey in Iowa, pollster Scott Rasmussen noted, "Romney leads, with Gingrich in second, among those who consider themselves Republicans. Paul has a wide lead among non-Republicans who are likely to participate in the caucus." The same is true in New Hampshire. A poll released Monday by the Boston Globe and the University of New Hampshire shows Paul leading among Democrats and independents who plan to vote in the January 10 primary. But among Republicans, Paul is a distant third –– 33 points behind leader Mitt Romney.

In South Carolina, "Paul's support is higher among those who usually don't vote in GOP primary elections," notes David Woodard, who runs the Palmetto Poll at Clemson University. In a hotly-contested Republican race, it appears that only about half of Paul's supporters are Republicans. In Iowa, according to Rasmussen, just 51 percent of Paul supporters consider themselves Republicans. In New Hampshire, the number is 56 percent, according to Andrew Smith, head of the University of New Hampshire poll.

So who is supporting Paul? In New Hampshire, Paul is the choice of just 13 percent of Republicans, according to the new poll, while he is the favorite of 36 percent of independents and 26 percent of Democrats who intend to vote in the primary. Paul leads in both non-Republican categories. Non-Republicans are sure to vote in all three early GOP contests. Iowa requires that caucus participants be registered Republicans, but anyone can show up on caucus night, register, and vote.

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/article/mischief-voters-push-paul-front-gop-race/276751

[Pachamama]

1. Ohhhh! So that's how the GOP is going to explain away why Ron Paul wins Iowa & New Hampshire!

(as well as any other states!!)

Its those darn "Mischief" voters.....

[asjr]

2. Yes, gotta watch those mischief voters-- they are

kin of the activist judges.

[Uncle Joe]

4. And kissing cousins

of the "liberal media."

[DeathToTheOil]

10. Meddling kids!

RUFF!

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Just as we suspected . . .

Republicans favored by the GOP establishment have little or no appeal outside the Republican Party.

[kenfrequed]

5. Hmm

Iowa and New Hampshire are utterly moot on the Republican side. The intensely conservative and religious right dominated South Carolina Republican party determines all.

[graywarrior]

34. Them crazy assed libertarians and tea party weirdoes took over NH

[kenfrequed]

41. They won't hold it.

And they still don't decide who gets the national nomination.

[graywarrior]

44. Hopefully not, but they are persistent buggers

[JBoy]

6. They're not "real" voters...

Just like Palin deciding who "real" Americans are.

[LiberalAndProud]

7. Perhaps they are not mischief voters.

I have posted before about conversations with my daughter on the Ron Paul question. After pointing out his past affiliation with racism once again, I asked, "Do you really intend to vote for him?" She replied, "I want Ron Paul to be the Republican nominee. I want Obama to have to speak to the question of the Federal Reserve, the War on Drugs and foreign military intervention; my vote will be for Obama."

I was reassured and impressed.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Exactly.

Running against Ron Paul can put Obama honest on a couple issues I voted for him on, but he hasn't delivered on yet.

I want Paul to be the nominee. I don't want Gingrich or Romney, because Obama will run to the center again on several issues, and that doesn't help us.

Paul can't win, but can serve a useful purpose.

[Uncle Joe]

27. And the ironic thing is, the center or at least the policies of the center is loaded with racism

not to mention classism as exemplified by the so called "War on Drugs."

[James48]

36. I got news for you-

Yes, Ron Paul CAN win the republican nomination, especially this time because it's not a winner-take-all of the delegate on the republican side. If he wins a primary, he takes a big chunk. But even if he comes in second, or third, he gets some.

Before long, he'll be stacking up a lot of delegates, and as each of the other candidates falls away and drops out, those delegates will have a choice- jump to Mitt, or jump to the second place candidate, which may be Paul.

Paul appeals to a lot in the middle. Take a look at history- the middle is where the nominee comes from more often than not.

Watch. And hang on- because yes, Ron Paul could get the nomination.

[AtheistCrusader]

37. I'm perfectly fine with that.

So long as he loses in the General.

[MaineDem]

8. Many people are not enrolled in either party (so called Independents in many states)

The laws allow them to declare for primaries/caucuses. In Maine they have to declare a few weeks before a primary/caucus. They're not doing anything wrong.

Sounds like a GOP way of marginalizing them by calling them "mischief voters."

[ingac70]

24. Like they were voting for Hilliary.....

I plan to make mischief in TN's GOP primary too.

[jwirr]

9. Mischief voters - I used to be one of those when I lived in Iowa. Because many local positions are

actually chosen in the caucus (they run unopposed in the general) many of us Democrats registered rethug and voted for their worst candidates for congress and president. Then in the general election we voted staight Democrat.

[LiberalAndProud]

11. Interesting tactic.

How often did the worst candidate win the office?

I have thought of changing my registration in order to vote for the least objectionable Republican in the primary, because the GOP primary winner will almost always win the general here.

[jwirr]

16. Well that was back in the days when Democrats were winning so it is different today. The way things

are going today it may not be a good tactic.

[AtheistCrusader]

15. You didn't put Bush on the ticket in 2000 did you?

Because that didn't go well...

[jwirr]

17. No but it would not surprise me that this is still happening because most local officials are still

rethug.

[AtheistCrusader]

18. I would feel like a complete tool

If I ever was involved in such at thing, and the worst candidate won...

Like.. 'oh... damn.'

[jwirr]

26. You are probably right but I did not have to make that decision in order to get good local officials

[efhmc]

12. Why are they mischief voters?

Couldn't they be answering honestly as to their id and want to vote for Ron Paul and can only do so as repukes?

[Bucky]

22. It's an effort to discredit Ron Paul's appeal

[4dsc]

19. The cat is out of the bag

Its true there has been a call for democratic party members to attend the GOP caucuses and vote for Paul. I am still up in the air about doing it though. I would like to attend the democratic caucus and vote UNDECIDED to send a nice little message to President Obama.

[quakerboy]

32. Strange

I get all sorts of emails from the major parties, as well as their state affilliates in a number of states, as well as being on the mailing list for a whole lot of of the individual elected persons, and any number of formerly elected persons who are still involved in politics.

And I never heard one word about any organized move for Democrats to attend the GOP caucuses.

This dosnt seem so much like a "cat out of the bag" moment to me. More like something the GOP was planning to do, but now will use to smear a candidate they cannot accept for their own side, and the opposition party, all in one swoop.

[Hardrada]

33. I asked a repub friend if I should attend the GOP caucus and vote for Ron Paul

but he assured me that I was too high profile (and might be murdered). The last was I am quite sure mere hyperbole. So I might attend the Obama one and support None of the Above.

[emulatorloo]

42. I am in Iowa and have heard no such call to go to GOP caucuses

Curious, Who is telling you this?

[Bucky]

20. What's the difference between "supported by mischief voters" and "appeals to independents"?

Whether they support Ron Paul or not.

[ixion]

21. The message here, in my opinion, is that people want 'change'

and they're going to move farther outside the status quo in an attempt to invoke that change, both on the left and the right.

[A Simple Game]

31. We have a winner. n/t

[Charlemagne]

46. Do they have to choose the primary winner at the convention

I mean, most political parties have a fail safe valve that says they can choose whoever they want and they are not bound to what the primary results are. Sort of like the electoral college. I could see paul winning but the convention picks Mitt or Skeletor or something.

[SoapBox]

23. Paul is a nut...and is son is just a nut from the nut tree.

Ron Paul...sucking a living off of the government that he so hates, since 1976.

He's a hypocrite and a loon.

[Daveparts3]

25. You do Understand

that this was a (Rasmussen) Fox news poll, you do also understand that the Washington Examiner is a free handout at the Metro Stations.

The media campaign of anyone but Paul is quite entertaining. The other day I read an article that said Ron Paul's candidacy could destroy the Iowa Caucuses. Whats next, if you vote for Ron Paul Jesus will kill puppies and kittens! It only goes to illustrate jusy how contrived the media coverage actually is

[SixthSense]

28. Operation: Chaos... commencing...

exxxxxcellent!

[blackspade]

29. The rethug establishment is getting desparate to somehow discredit any of Pauls's

potential wins.

I would never vote for Paul, but he is refreshing in some ways for a bigoted, capitalist, libritarian.

[LAGC]

30. Hell yeah! I plan on crossing over and attending the Idaho Republican Caucus in March.

Since no one serious is running against Obama, there's no point in attending the Democratic Caucus.

So I'll do my part to help Ron Paul win.

The debates between him and Obama would be epic.

[Gman]

35. I believe Rush called it "Operation Chaos"? Heh, heh, heh!

It works both ways, cyst butt.

[yellowcanine]

39. Yes, I thought of that little attempted caper by Limbaugh from 2008. It is mostly an illusion.

Turns out that just as 2008 when most Hillary Clinton voters really wanted her to be President,I suspect that this time around most Ron Paul voters really want him to be President. The fact is that many Ron Paul voters are not actually Republicans. So what, the rules say they can vote in the Republican primary in some states so they should be able to vote.

[24601]

45. And as long as any one supporting it now also supported it in 2008, they are not a hypocrite.

Otherwise, it's a case of dirty tricks are OK for my side, not for others.

[TalkingDog]

38. I've heard a lot of people are going to vote for him because they are afraid

He will "haunt their prostate".

[SixthSense]

40. GOP: "Don't vote Republican"

sound advice

[Blue Hen Buckeye]

43. I hope Paul has a 3rd party candidacy for President

It would siphon off enough GOP voters that it make Obama a lock to win.

[coalition_unwilling]

47. I plan to be a 'mischief voter' in California's open primary, but

I'll mischievously cast my vote for Bachmann or Santorum, as those would be the two weakest possible opponents Obama would have to face in the GE

Hmm, should I use my vote to sow discord among the Repukes by voting Paul or to try to secure the weakest possible candidate for Obama (Bachmann or Santorum)? Decisions, decisions

(Thanks to DUer Le Taz Hot for re-centering my thinking on the issue.)