Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is predicted to battle for a third place finish in the South Carolina primary race, but the Texas congressman is already looking toward two states with caucus voting in February.
The Texas congressman’s presidential campaign announced Friday via his website that they had secured two “substantial” television advertising rights in Minnesota and Nevada. The Nevada caucus voting occurs February 4th, just three days prior to the February 7th Minnesota caucuses.
The campaign will run his popular “Big Dog” ad in those two states, the ad shows his plan to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget in his first year as president and all the federal agencies that he wants to eliminate. The 30 second ad contrasts Mr. Paul as a “big dog” compared to his rivals which are characterized as “little shitzus” by the ad’s announcer.
Mr. Paul’s campaign has previously hinted that their candidate will likely skip courting voters in Florida ahead of the Florida Republican primary election on January 31st to focus on Nevada, where his unique domestic and foreign policy views will likely have a better reception than they will in Florida.
Although, Mr. Paul will have a chance to directly engage voters in Florida on during the nationally televised debate in Tampa on Monday. An American Research Group poll of Florida voters released this week shows Mr. Paul garnering just 8 percent of the votes in the Sunshine State.
“Running ads in the key early voting states of Nevada and Minnesota is part of our delegate strategy to secure the Republican nomination,” said Mr. Paul’s National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton in a statement Friday. “Both states present opportunities for a strong top-three showing in their upcoming caucuses.”
Nationally Mr. Paul’s popularity continues to grow from his dedicated supporters that have a heavy online presence. An ABC News/Washington Post poll of Republican voters nationwide this week shows Mr. Paul tied with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for second place with 16 percent each.
Mr. Paul’s strategy of focusing on winning more delegates than voters could give him some leverage at the Republican National Convention in the event that he does not outright win the nomination as a result of primary voting.
The Texas Rep. finished third in the Iowa caucuses and second in New Hampshire, a state with a large independent voting base that was very welcoming to his message that focuses on civil liberties, constitutional government and states rights. His on the ground presence in South Carolina though was not as heavy as it was in either Iowa or New Hampshire, likely a sign that he was aware of his lower popularity level in the Palmetto state.
The most recent polls of South Carolina voters show Mr. Paul headed for a third place finish in the South Carolina Republican primary election Saturday.