Texas congressman Ron Paul has weathered the influx of criticism he’s received since emerging as a front-runner to win the Iowa caucuses Tuesday, and he seems confident that he can finish in one of the top three spots.
In an appearance on Bloomberg Television’s ’Political Capital with Al Hunt’ Friday, Mr. Paul predicted the results of the Iowa caucuses Tuesday, and assessed the competition while also addressing the criticism he’s undergone recently.
“I’m going to come in I think first or second, but I just don’t ever make those kind of bold predictions,” said the Republican presidential candidate Tuesday. “I’m going to win, I’m going to – because I really don’t know. But if – if I did come in fifth or sixth that would be a real shocker.”
After polls at the beginning of December showed Mr. Paul surging in Iowa, his rival candidates and the media began to raise questions about a series of racist newsletters that ran under his name in the 1980s and 90s.
The Texas Republican has consistently denied any connection to the racial content in the newsletters, until a radio interview in Iowa earlier this week where he did accept “some responsibility” for them.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has been the most critical of Mr. Paul for the newsletters. Other candidates, including former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann have also been extremely critical of him for his unique domestic and foreign policy views.
Mr. Paul addressed his competition as all being “part of the status quo” Friday.
“I think he probably understands how the market works as a business man a little bit better than a guy like Gingrich does and the people who have never been in business,” said Mr. Paul, referencing former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who many political pundits are now thinking is the likely favorite to win the Iowa cacuses on Tuesday.
Although Mr. Paul places closely trails Mr. Romney in recent polls of Iowa voters, many political analysts believe he is a long shot to win the Republican nomination in 2012, and even longer shot to defeat President Barack Obama if he does secure the nomination.
Mr. Paul, who advocates legalizing marijuana, drastically reducing foreign aid and eliminating the Federal Reserve, believes that his stance as a “strict constitutionalist” is what scares his rivals and his political party the most.
“I’m a strict constitutionalist. I want to balance the budget. I want to cut spending. I don’t want to go to war unless we declares the wars,” said Mr. Paul. “I want to protect civil liberties and I figure what’s dangerous about that? That seems strange that that’s dangerous to obey the constitution and always vote against big spending and big government. Sounds like conservatives should agree with me.”
