Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul joined Kentucky U.S. Rand Paul on the campaign trail Wednesday, stumping in Waterloo ahead of the 2012 Ames Republican Straw Poll.
Mr. Paul, who is trailing in recent polls, has said his campaign will focus on winning the key straw poll Saturday, noting that a win in Ames could catapult him ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.
“You want to make the best of every bit of time you have, especially with the roughly 800 credentialed media that are going to be in town,” said A. J. Spiker, vice-chairman of Mr. Paul’s Iowa campaign. “It’s just really a great opportunity for America to see Iowa; and how politicking works in Iowa.”
Mr. Paul came in fifth in the Ames straw poll in 2007, however, he said his 2012 campaign has more money and higher name recognition. Mr. Paul’s campaign announced late last month that it has spent upwards of $40,000 on securing a key position for the Ames poll.
The younger Paul, who canceled earlier visits to Iowa due to the ongoing debt debate in Washington, traveled to Iowa as part of a group of nearly 30 Paul supporters. About 30 members of the Paul clan, including sons, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, traveled on a charter bus that left Texas late Tuesday night.
“Democrats have to admit that entitlements and welfare need to be reformed. Social spending needs to go down and Republicans need to admit that military spending needs to go down. They say the tea party won’t compromise – we will compromise,” the Kentucky Republican said in a speech to supporters.
Speaking Wednesday, Mr. Paul slammed President Obama for his handling of the debt over raising the nation’s debt limit. The Texas Republican called on Congress to consider serious spending cuts to Social Security.
“We need to know what the role of government ought to be – Obama probably endorses entitlements as rights,” said Mr. Paul. “We can get there – we can cut entitlements.”
The Texas Republican, who conceded that winning in Iowa will require overcoming numerous hurdles, reiterated his thoughts on his chances of victory Wednesday.
“I’m not predicting that I know we can win or anything like that,” Mr. Paul told a room of about 75 supporters.
Still, his son said the Texas Republican should receive credit for predicting a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating.
“We should do some gloating,” said Senator Paul. “The slogan for the campaign should be, ‘Ron Paul was right!’”
