Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is one of two GOP candidates on the ballot for the Virginia Republican primary. According to BuzzFeed, Governor Rick Perry (R-TX), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum tried to challenge the signature requirement to be on the Virgina primary ballot, but failed.
In response to the news, Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton posited in a press release that “this legal development affirms that this Republican nominating contest has always been a two-man race between the candidates with the resources and organization required for a 50-state race.”
Mr. Benton summarized the meaning of the news for Mr. Perry, Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Santorum. “It’s over,” Mr. Benton posited. Mr. Benton went on to add that “Ron Paul, the candidate of real change, will face off against establishment flip-flopper Mitt Romney in the Virginia primary, making that Tuesday less ‘super’ for serial hypocrite Newt Gingrich, counterfeit conservative Rick Santorum, and Rick Perry, who I should mention is marginally attached to the presidential race.”
Mr. Paul garnered strong finishes in the first two early voting states of the 2012 presidential race. Mr. Paul earned a third place finish in the Iowa Caucuses and a second place finish in the New Hampshire Primary. However, the latest polls of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters suggest that the race may not be over for Mr. Gingrich.
Both a Monmouth University poll and a Rasmussen Reports poll of likely Republican voters in South Carolina found Mr. Paul in a wresting match with Mr. Santorum for third place. Both polls also reveal that Mr. Gingrich has a decent shot at finishing in second place.
“Right now South Carolina voters have vital information helpful for deciding not only who the authentic conservative in the race is – Ron Paul – but whether that candidate leaves South Carolina with a ticket that actually gets him somewhere,” Mr. Benton said about the importance of Saturday’s primary.
