Concord, New Hampshire (CNN) - While Rick Perry dominated the political dialogue at a speech in Bedford, New Hampshire, 30 miles away a group of several hundred "liberty lovers" lined up to cheer on Ron Paul.
Paul, the Texas congressman whose libertarian views have inspired a legion of full-throated conservatives to unswerving devotion, opened his campaign office in the state capital of Concord Wednesday evening. His supporters turned out in force.
Traffic was backed up onto the road as supporters searched for spots at the office park where the headquarters will open. Throngs of people toting yard signs waited in line to sign in and grab a plate of barbecue.
"This is the only man that knows the people," said Chris Lawless, a volunteer from Contoocook, New Hampshire. "The real grass-roots people are here."
Paul took the stage as his supporters chanted his name. He used his speech to further the populist, David vs. Goliath themes of his presidential run, and criticized the media for failing to give him due credit for ranking second in the closely watched Ames Straw Poll last weekend.
"We did have that rough and tumble with the media on the weekend but I think this has made up for it," Paul said of the size of the audience. "The issue has become the fact that I did not get any interviews on Sunday."
He also took the opportunity to poke fun at Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who came under fire this week when he suggested Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke could be committing treason if he printed more money before the 2012 elections.
"Now we have a Southern governor, I can't remember his name," Paul said to raucous applause. "He makes me look like a moderate. I have never once suggested Bernanke committed treason."
Instead, the man who has pushed to "end the Fed" said he might consider Bernanke a counterfeiter.
Paul told his supporters this election was their opportunity to end the country's fiscal woes.
"At times I've been criticized for my lack of ability to give public speeches," he said. "But I've never backed off on a message. It's a message we need."
Good article... Ron Paul 2012!
"and criticized the media for failing to give him due credit for ranking second in the closely watched Ames Straw Poll last weekend"
So, how many out there can tell me the name or cite an interview with the First Runner Up for this year's Miss America?
Anybody?
Only the LOUD MOUTHS will get televised media play – PerryWinkle is dominating the news and he looks like a Bush-Ash!!! I mean, if you close your eyes and just listen, a NIGHTMARE returns that would scare you to death – The drawl – the smirkyness – the obnoxious attitude. He even LQQKs like Bush – AHHHHGGGHH – no more, PLEASE!!!
Too bad Ron Paul's supporters will GROW and GROW and nothing will come out of it. Paul, after awhile, will be too old to run for anything!!!
Ron Paul 😀
I'm one of a rapidly growing group of Republicans who say, "If the GOP Leadership will not address the problem with Ron Paul not receiving airtime commensurate with his poll standings and Ron Paul is not nominated, I will vote a straight Democrat ticket, right down to dog catcher. Correct the problem, and you have our continued support no matter who is nominated."
Ron Paul will win this state!
Americans are fed up with the MSM and the Oligarchy telling us the middle class that ROBBERY by government is GOOD for us. IT IS NOT!
Ron Paul 2012!!!!!!!
He is my hero. He is running because we want him to, and we need him to. He doesn't want to be traveling all over the country, especially with the government sponsored sexual battery of the TSA with which everyone contends. It is the passion of all of us for liberty that keeps him going. He is a true statesman. Perhaps the last our country will ever see.
how funny Perry 'dominated' the political dialog at a speech, how bizarre, because there is new poll out from New Hampshire, where 'Ron Paul is clobbering Perry'. Go ahead and google that and you'll find the article.
Dr. Paul is the only candidate in this entire election that understands economic issues.
Ron paul is one of the few true patriots left in congress. Unfortunately, the majority have been bought and paid for by the banking cartel which is behind all the anti liberty, peace and freedom laws being pushed. Americans must stand against the banking cartel and bring these criminals to justice for their treasonous crimes agsint the world and against our constitution. To the globalists out there, we leave you a message, "YOU WILL FAIL".
I love his NON WAR stance and the legalization of marijuana and tax it!! I don't want him in my Doctors office or my daughters...I don't like his stance on the civil rights movement. I will tell you when I went to register voters at a local campus, all the signs were 1) Cannabis 2) Ron Paul with a leaf in the background and 3) Obama 2012
Whatev. Cover him or ignore him but he is way too fringy to win a nomination much less the general election.
who cares he`s irrevelent GO PERRY 2012
Ron Paul Birthday MoneyBomb 8/20/2011 Restore The Republic Now!!!!
God bless Dr.Paul he is the only candidate worth voting for.... I fear for the future of out nation if he is not elected president....
The nice part about Ron Paul supporters is that at least some of them admit they are crazy and that their crazy candidate has no chance of ever winning the Presidency.
He always sounds good if only by comparison to the other offerings to the race. He makes some valid points concerning our out of control debt but he always carries his solutions to the extreme and loses most serious listeners.
You have to admit that he is the only person so far that does not sound like a total Nut like all of the rest!
The GOP is definitely in trouble this time around. Obama will win reelection in 2012 by default if nothing else.
Perry is showing himself as someone even more extreme and frankly scary than the idiot Bush.
Ron Paul 2012 :o)
Hey, all you "liberty lovers," go live in a third-world nation (like I have) where the top 2% own and control everything and a social safety net or government spending for the common good don't exist.
Live in that nation as an average person and then get back to us about how wonderful Paul's vision for America is.
I was just at this event in Concord, and it was amazing. There was a very POSITIVE spirit, and Dr. Paul was a very motivating figure to behold. He took the time to speak PERSONALLY with each and every supporter who waited in line to meet him. There is no scheme to his campaign. He wants to hand America back to THE PEOPLE, and the only reason the mainstream media doesn't cover him is because he stands for taking this power AWAY from corporate and banking interests. What a great day for America and for the Ron Paul campaign!
There were SIX HUNDRED people in attendance, not 'several hundred.' Nice article, aside from that major error ;P
Yes! Ron Paul is still on top regardless of what the mainstream media wants you to believe. Keep pushing your anti-war, pro-civil liberties policies Dr. Paul so the people here in Southern California can finally get the word!
I was just at this event in Concord, and it was amazing. There was a very POSITIVE spirit, and Dr. Paul was a very motivating figure to behold. He took the time to speak PERSONALLY with each and every supporter who waited in line to meet him. There is no scheme to his campaign. He wants to hand America back to THE PEOPLE, and the only reason the mainstream media doesn't cover him is because he stands for taking this power AWAY from corporate and banking interests. What a great day for America and for the Ron Paul campaign!
Ronnie Pops and his son both have some unique perspectives on how everyone should lead their lives. For them, being racist is an expression of your freedom of speech.
They feel if a business does not wish to cater to certain stereotypes, then they have the right to decline to do business with that person. Let's say you own an apartment building, and you advertise rentals in a local newspaper. They say that you have the right to turn away particular ethnic groups because you do not like them. That is an extraordinarily retrograde perspective. You have a right to deny liberty to others.
This is the real change we need.