Evan Axelbank, WPTV reporter and FLDemocracy2012 contributor, on Paul’s Florida supporters:

It would be gentle to say his views are out of the mainstream.

No seatbelt laws, no war on drugs, no Social Security federal reserve.

But Ron Paul’s supporters don’t see any of those view points as being anything but purely logical.

Supporters hear the phrase, “The reason he barely cracks ten percent support in national polls,” and would change the word “barely” to “only,” and finish it with “is because most haven’t listened carefully enough to what he’s actually saying.”

“The reason he “only” cracks ten percent support in national polls is because most haven’t listened carefully enough to what he’s actually saying.”

That’s the sentiment I heard tonight at a Ron Paul meetup in Palm Beach Gardens.

Two dozen supporters gathered in a hotel lobby to watch the Iowa Caucus results.

They weren’t surprised at his finish.

They expected it, because his ground game is second to none.

I got a good clue as to why: every single one of the supporters who I spoke to ultimately turned the conversation into, “Here’s why he’s right when he says ___.”

I was offered campaign literature like four times.

Heck, even some top-tier candidates don’t have brochures printed and mailed to Florida yet.

One Paul supporter speculated that every single one of the people at the meetup agreed with the candidate on every single one of his positions.

They also say that he can win the nomination even if he doesn’t win the Florida primary on January 31st.

How? By cultivating organizations similar to the one they built in Iowa in big states like Texas and California.

While that seems highly unlikely, his supporters believe one central tenant: we like Ron Paul, and once you hear more, you will too.

Still, none said anything about his controversial comments on race in America or on Israel, or speculated on whether those would be acceptable to voters even in a Republican primary dominated by conservative voters.

Tags | Ron Paul