Ron Paul faces anti-incumbent challenges in primary for renomination

Paul Burned by Tea Party Blowback

By Alex Isenstadt
Politico.com
Saturday, February 27, 2010

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33640.html

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-oriented Republican whose 2008 presidential run provided kindling for the Tea Party movement, suddenly finds himself dealing with the blowback: a handful of Tea Party-inspired candidates are seeking to dislodge him in Tuesday's Texas Republican primary.

It's an unusual turn of events for a veteran congressman who has reached stardom in conservative populist circles and who just last week emerged as the victor of the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Yet despite his solid anti-establishment credentials and non-conformist views, Paul finds himself under siege from three Republicans who are embracing many of the themes that have defined Paul's career. At the heart of the resistance is the notion that the 10-term Paul has gone Washington, abandoning his constituents as he pursues his white whale—the presidency.

"To be honest, I was surprised when these guys started coming out of the woodwork," said Fort Bend County GOP Chairman Rick Miller. "They're trying to tap into the idea that it's time for a new face. It's a sign of the times. It's what's happening in our country."

Paul remains the favorite in the race but the opposition clearly has him looking over his shoulder.

In a January email alert titled "They've Turned Their Attack Dogs Loose On Me!," Paul warns that both parties are "doing everything they can to make sure I am defeated."

"These candidates include three Republicans in my own primary on March 2," he wrote, "and they will stop at nothing to tear down and destroy all we have worked for."

Richard Murray, a University of Houston political scientist, said strong anti-incumbent winds are buffeting even members like Paul who have never been embraced by the political establishment.

"You've got this throw the bums out factor, and it doesn’t matter if they have an R, a D, or an L next to their name," he said.

As they crisscross the small towns that encompass outer edge of Houston and the Gulf Coast, Paul's foes are also branding him as more interested in running for president than serving the residents of the 14th Congressional District.

"Where are you, Congressman Paul?" reads the website of Tim Graney, a small business owner who is one of the Republicans running against Paul. At a debate last week, John Gay, another Paul challenger, took a shot at the congressman's national political organization, Campaign for Liberty: "I applaud Dr. Paul for what he's done and I want him to retire and do the things that he likes to do and run the foundations that he's started."

"He's not doing the job of the U.S. House. He should be here in the district listening to us," Graney said in an interview this week. "At the end of the day, his Campaign for Liberty is a good cause, but he shouldn’t be doing that on our time."

Gerald Wall, a chemical worker who is also challenging Paul, echoed their criticisms.

"The problem with Ron Paul is that he doesn't spend any time representing his people," he said. "Everyone knows that if we elect him to Congress he will spend one month in Congress and 18 months running for president."

Jim Webb, a Texas GOP precinct chair in Brazoria County, said the idea of Paul as an absentee landlord was gaining resonance in the district.

"I think there's a lot of people in the district who feel like they are not well represented. He's a popular guy nationally, but when it comes to being in the district with his constituents, he's hardly ever seen," said Webb. "I think it changed after his first presidential run. It just seemed that he catered more to his national constituency than his local constituency."

Jesse Benton, a Paul campaign spokesman, rejected the idea that Paul had been absent from the district, insisting that the congressman had spent only two days traveling in other states this year.

"Charges that he's gallivanting around the country are silly," said Benton. "Rep. Paul has not made any decision on whether he's running for president. He's very focused on his district, and he's very involved in his district."

Paul, who refuses to support any legislation unless it strictly adheres to the Constitution, is also coming under fire for allegedly failing to follow a House member's credo—district first.

His opponents claim that his dogged pursuit of an ideological agenda raises his national profile but does little to address the true needs of his district. Graney has attacked Paul for voting against a bill that would fund the Coast Guard and a bill that funded relief efforts for Hurricane Ike.

"In not working with others and voting no on everything, he's done nothing to bring himself to represent taxpayers," said Graney.

Bob Sipple, the mayor of Lake Jackson, a town of 31,000 where Paul lives with his wife and who said he personally holds Paul in high regard, acknowledged hearing some of the criticism.

"I think there is some thought that he is set and uncompromising in some areas and certain things that could get done with some consideration aren't getting done," said Sipple. "I think there are people who think, 'Maybe we ought to take a look at someone who takes a more compromising attitude on issues.'"

Paul -- who has earned the nickname "Dr. No" on Capitol Hill -- appeared to acknowledge the criticism during last week's debate.

"Obviously, there must be some disagreement in order for us to have a contest to challenge me in a race and I think I understand that because I am a stickler -- I am a stickler for the Constitution. I vote 'no' a lot," Paul said in his closing remarks. "I am not ashamed of this."

Complicating the landscape is that fact that some local Republican Party officials are lashing out against Paul because some of the congressman's supporters are challenging them on Tuesday's primary ballot. They argue that Paul is trying to stack the deck in his favor in order to have a stronger hand ahead of the 2012 state convention.

In Brazoria County, which serves as Paul's political base, Paul supporters are challenging Chairwoman Yvonne Dewey and a host of local precinct chairs. This week, several local party leaders published letters in a local newspaper, The Facts, expressing dismay at the takeover attempt.

"They think that if they control the party, they can control the convention. And if they control the convention, then they can get some votes," Dewey complained in an interview. "They don't come in and work with you. They come in and try to send you home."

For all the grumbling back home, however, there is little question that Paul, armed with a $2.5 million war chest, still leads the field. And there appears to be widespread belief that he will finish on top, with the only question being whether he will win enough votes to cross the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff.

"I personally think he'll win that primary with 60-plus percent of the vote, even with three opponents, so I find it kind of interesting," said Mary Anne Wyatt, chairwoman of the Victoria County Republican Party. "There's no question that Rep. Paul is very popular in his district and has been for some time. It hasn't been an enigma. It's been a fact."

"I don't think he views any of us as a threat," conceded Graney, who says he has spent $80,000 on his campaign.

A Moore Information survey conducted for Paul's campaign showed Paul picking up 74 percent of the vote in a primary contest. Seventy-nine percent said they had a favorable impression of Paul, with 84 percent approving of his job performance.

Paul's campaign has purchased $50,000 of airtime on local radio stations running an ad highlighting his conservative accomplishments and his role in helping to inspire the Tea Party movement.

"One leader is different: Congressman Ron Paul, who has been named the champion of the Constitution and the taxpayer's best friend," says the one-minute ad. "Let's keep him fighting for us."

Benton, the Paul spokesman, was beyond confident about Tuesday's outcome.

"Victory is a foregone conclusion," said Benton. "It's a very positive thing that there is an anti-incumbent sentiment and that there is Tea Party involvement. It gives him a chance to communicate to his constituents that's he’s voting their values, their interests, and is working hard for them. And the people are overwhelmingly supportive of him."

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Ron Paul's congressional campaign Internet site:

http://www.ronpaulforcongress.com/

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