Following up from recent polling which shows that Paul is the second choice of most Texans for Kay Bailey Hutchison’s US Senate seat, Paul has openly acknowledged that he’s considering a bid for US Senate. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) says a new poll that shows him a a top choice among Texas Republicans to run for Senate has him thinking about the race. “It’s certainly crossed my mind,” Paul told The Ballot Box of a potential run for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s (R-Texas) Senate seat next year.
New numbers out Wednesday from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling found Paul was second only to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) among Texas Republicans asked who they want to see run for the seat in 2012. The poll found Dewhurst to be the top choice of Republicans, garnering 23 percent support. But Paul was right behind him as the pick of 20 percent of GOP voters.
The two-time presidential candidate stressed that his potential interest in a Senate seat wasn’t anything new, but admitted the poll numbers had peaked his interest. Paul said “a lot of people” brought the numbers to his attention Wednesday. “I was surprised,” he said of the poll results, quickly adding that a run for the Senate has crossed his mind several times in the past, “so I don’t know that it means much.”
A Paul run for US Senate could change the Presidential primary, opening his base of support to another Tea Party or libertarian oriented candidate – with potential gains from the likes of people ranging from Herman Cain to Sarah Palin to Gary Johnson. This would not be the first time Paul has run for US Senate in Texas, losing the primary to Phil Gramm in 1984. If he runs and wins, this would be the second time a father-son duo served in the US Senate. Henry Dodge (WI) and his son Augustus Dodge (IA) served alongside one another in the US Senate from 1855 to 1857.
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-Matt Newman is a conservative blogger from Maryland who blogs Old Line Elephant and Tweets far too often.
January 21st, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Good, it will keep a lot of anti-military and pro-drug-legalization rhetoric off of the Presidential debate stage.
January 21st, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Hello, everybody. I’m back. My, what a difference a cycle makes, huh? I haven’t forgotten how completely one-sided and anti-Huckabee biased the editors of this site were last time around. Didn’t do much good, did it? I’m willing to give this another chance, good Christian that I am. Whatcha say?
BSR
January 21st, 2011 at 3:13 pm
#2, Sure – enjoy commenting on our posts. But not sure what that comment has to do with a potential Ron Paul Senate run
January 21st, 2011 at 3:26 pm
I doubt he runs for either Senate or President. I think he will pass the torch to Gary Johnson and remain in the house where he has more influence.
With Cruz and Williams we have a hard enough decision to make.
January 21st, 2011 at 3:56 pm
This would be the best of both worlds, we could put him in the Senate and keep him out of the Presidential race.
January 21st, 2011 at 4:13 pm
If Paul runs for the Senate, two things will happen 1.) He’ll lose, which is good and 2.) Depending on Texas State Law, he may well lose his seat in the House (if they are prohibited from running for two offices at once.
Either way Paul isn’t up on stage ranting about the evils of having a foreign policy that isn’t like Neville Chamberlains.
January 21st, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Paul running for the Senate could damage the party for years, impeding the career progress of Ted Cruz or Mike Williams, either of whom would be a tremendous asset for the party.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:30 pm
#4 Exactly right – Paul now has the influence on monetary policy that he’s wanted for his entire career. Even his rabid supporters don’t seem to think he really wants to run for President… but they’re urging him to anyhow.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:33 am
Ron Paul Anti-military?
Remind me again, Dave, which 2008 Republican candidate received the highest number of donations form serving military personnel?
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Ron Ronie Run