USA: As the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses approach, Texas Congressman Ron Paul says he is a unique option in a crowded field

Record ID: 346449

  • Title: USA: As the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses approach, Texas Congressman Ron Paul says he is a unique option in a crowded field
  • Date: 3rd January 2012
  • Summary: DES MOINES, IOWA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 2, 2012) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** U.S. SENATOR RAND PAUL (REPUBLICAN OF WEST VIRGINIA) INTRODUCING REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RON PAUL OF TEXAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEXAS CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, SAYING: "As far as I'm concerned, there is only one issue. They talk about a lot of issues. They talk about the foreign policy, economic policy, monetary policy. There is one issue that has made America great, and the issue that you can answer all your questions on is: individual liberty. That is the issue." PAUL SPEAKING AT EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEXAS CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, SAYING: "The others represent the status quo - variations of the status quo - but they're not talking about a foreign policy to defend America. They're talking about mischief around the world and policing the world. Are they talking about changing the monetary policy and looking at the basic problems with the monetary system and how it creates our financial bubbles? Do they really care about personal liberties? When you look at the votes and what the President's been doing - they don't care about your personal liberty, or it wouldn't be continuously undermined. So therefore, a lot is at stake." CROWD CHANTING "RON PAUL" AS SUPPORTERS AND MEDIA GATHER AROUND PAUL PEOPLE LEAVING RON PAUL EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) DON KOONTZ OF CLIVE, IOWA, RON PAUL SUPPORTER, SAYING: "I think that there's a lot of problems with the country, and the person who has predicted them is probably the best person to be the solution, so that's why I support him." (SOUNDBITE) (English) LARRY LYON, OF WAUKEE, IOWA, SAYING: "You know, it's kind of funny. He reminds me of my grandfather, and my grandfather would have done what's right for the country, maybe before he would have done what's right for himself, and I get that impression about Ron as well. I sense sincerity, and I think that's the kind of energy the country's looking for." (SOUNDBITE) (English) KIM MOYLE OF ANKENY, IOWA, SAYING: "I would consider myself independent. I'm fiscally conservative, but socially liberal, so I'm really having a hard time finding someone who fits my niche. Ron Paul, when I went through and I did the surveys and the polls to see on all the issues - he was my number one. Some of his stuff, I'm a little bit unsure of, and I'm not sure he's electable. So that's why I wanted to come out here and hear him speak. I'm listening to Mitt Romney later on today too." MAN WEARING COWBOY HAT AND SCARF SELLING RON PAUL CAMPAIGN BUTTONS VARIOUS RON PAUL CAMPAIGN BUTTONS ON TABLE MAN SELLING RON PAUL CAMPAIGN BUTTONS
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACP604FDD1C6CDF9DCNJDQG8E7
  • Story Text: As time runs out before Tuesday's (January 3, 2012) Iowa Republican caucuses, Texas Congressman Ron Paul told a packed hotel conference room Monday (January 2) that he was a unique candidate in the crowded field.
    Paul is running neck-and-neck with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in polls, just a day before Iowa residents gather to choose a Republican nominee for president.
    Coming from the libertarian wing of the Republican party, Paul told supporters that there was only one true issue at debate in this election.
    "As far as I'm concerned, there is only one issue. They talk about a lot of issues. They talk about the foreign policy, economic policy, monetary policy. There is one issue that has made America great, and the issue that you can answer all your questions on is: individual liberty. That is the issue," Paul said.
    The congressman said his competitors in the crowded Republican field represented the status quo.
    "The others represent the status quo - variations of the status quo - but they're not talking about a foreign policy to defend America. They're talking about mischief around the world and policing the world. Are they talking about changing the monetary policy and looking at the basic problems with the monetary system and how it creates our financial bubbles? Do they really care about personal liberties? When you look at the votes and what the President's been doing - they don't care about your personal liberty, or it wouldn't be continuously undermined. So therefore, a lot is at stake," Paul said.
    Iowa supporters, and those still unsure who to choose in caucuses, attended the Paul event.
    "I think that there's a lot of problems with the country, and the person who has predicted them is probably the best person to be the solution, so that's why I support him," Don Koontz of Clive, Iowa said.
    "You know, it's kind of funny. He reminds me of my grandfather, and my grandfather would have done what's right for the country, maybe before he would have done what's right for himself, and I get that impression about Ron as well. I sense sincerity, and I think that's the kind of energy the country's looking for," Larry Lyon of Waukee, Iowa said.
    "I would consider myself independent. I'm fiscally conservative, but socially liberal, so I'm really having a hard time finding someone who fits my niche. Ron Paul, when I went through and I did the surveys and the polls to see on all the issues - he was my number one. Some of his stuff, I'm a little bit unsure of, and I'm not sure he's electable. So that's why I wanted to come out here and hear him speak. I'm listening to Mitt Romney later on today too," Kim Moyle of Ankeny, Iowa, said.
    The Iowa caucuses will take place on January 3, the first of the state-by-state contests to choose a party presidential nominee.
    The mid-western state is famed for having an outsized influence on the contest for the White House.
    Since 1976, there have been seven contested caucuses in the Republican Party. Of those contests, three winners have become the party's nominee.
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