Ron Paul Campaign Bails Out Mitt Romney In Michigan

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is once again providing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with a major campaign assist, going up with a 30-second advertisement in Michigan that whacks former Sen. Rick Santorum as a phony conservative.

The ad comes one week before the state's primary, which, until recently, Romney had been widely expected to win. His father served as Michigan governor, and Romney has worked to play up his Michigan roots, but Santorum has surged in the state, climbing to the top of some polls there.

Titled "Fake," the Paul ad highlights Santorum's support for raising the debt ceiling, his backing of the expansion of the Department of Education and his support for No Child Left Behind. It even accuses him of sending billions of dollars in aid to North Korea.

All of these, of course, are fair game, but one could easily knock Romney for similar transgressions. The Paul campaign, however, has chosen to leave the former Massachusetts governor largely untouched.

So far this campaign cycle, the two candidates have had an informal alliance, with neither of them ever really threatening the other. Paul memorably declined to join the chorus in criticizing Romney's tenure at Bain Capital. Romney, in return, has heaped praise on Paul's influence over the GOP platform on all facets, save foreign policy.

The New York Times reported last week on the friendship that has developed between Romney and Paul, dating back to their 2008 runs for the White House. Now, it appears, Paul is going to help drive down Santorum's climbing poll numbers in Michigan, to Romney's benefit.

Comments

[frantaylor]

06:23 PM on 02/23/2012

Tonights show will be delayed while our Puppeteer, Ralph Thiel, works to get his puppet strings untangled.

[freedomjones]

02:58 PM on 02/22/2012

revolution defined http://youtu.be/N7X8WJdlq1k

[Keely Shea]

02:00 PM on 02/22/2012

Dr. Paul, please don't align yourself with that man. Please please don't do it.

[jbouti]

03:48 PM on 02/22/2012

Heis fighting for the same conservative votes as Santorum . He needs him out to have a shot at Mitt. First things first.

[sixtoes]

02:38 AM on 02/23/2012

That's why they're doing it quietly. Hopefully, it's only a temporary alliance.

[jbouti]

07:51 AM on 02/23/2012

There is no alliance ,it's called being civil. When they are the last 2 left Romney will throw everything at him and he will respond.

[piratesfan23]

10:21 AM on 02/22/2012

If Ron Paul doesn't win the nomination. I would be ok if he was made head of the federal reserve or the vice president...

Romney gives Paul the best chance to be something in 2012, because Romney can win. Santorum has no chance. He is an extreme neo-con and an extreme social conservative at a time when then country desires an end to wars and is more tolerant of gay marriage and drug legalization issues...

No independent or youth is going to go to Santorum....It would be like voting for G.W. again.

It's imperfect, but if Paul continues to motivate his 10-15% then he is almost assured to be a major player in the party.

[blueinannarbor]

04:20 PM on 02/22/2012

The dude's in last place, do you hear me? THE DUDE'S IN LAST PLACE! Why is it that the further Ron Paul gets from the nomination, the closer his supporters believe he is to winning it. THE DUDE'S IN LAST PLACE AND HE'S GOING NOWHERE!

[sixtoes]

02:45 AM on 02/23/2012

Gingrich is in last place.

[piratesfan23]

08:42 AM on 02/23/2012

The "dude", Dr. Paul Lebowski I guess were calling him...is in last place. That is correct.

But his supporters aren't flip-flopping or bought and sold by the msm...

In elections, passion and enthusiasm wins. Take Obama in 2008. It is clear that Paul connects with young people and independents, that gives him an edge.

The republican party can't win without Ron Paul...because most Ron Paul supporters either won't vote or will vote him in anyway.

When people vote, they want to vote because a message drives them not because they are afraid of the other side. Ron Paul has that message.

Go Blue by the way.

[sixtoes]

02:44 AM on 02/23/2012

I'd be ok with RP as VP. I think he'd have more of an influence on Romney than the MIC.

[JstDarla]

08:51 AM on 02/22/2012

I can't believe there is not one word on any MSM about the historical march of the Veterans for Ron Paul on February 20th. Over 400 to 500 troops marched to the White House. There were tons of media there, but then no mention of it on news?? What's up with that?

[bootlegerr]

10:48 AM on 02/22/2012

The MSM does not want Ron Paul to repair this country.

[Sean Kruz]

01:16 AM on 02/22/2012

Romney-Paul ticket would absolutely LEVEL the Obama run for a second shot at a destructive four years!

[debekniss]

01:53 AM on 02/22/2012

Sean Kruz

Ron Paul Leaks His Choice for Vice President!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YogY9nS4yoE

[bootlegerr]

10:53 AM on 02/22/2012

I hope these two run together.Thanks for the link.

[blueinannarbor]

04:24 PM on 02/22/2012

Shouldn't Paul win something before he starts choosing his VP candidate? Really, shouldn't he win a primary or a causus and at least give someone at least a hint that he's a viable candidate?

[kaygee]

11:12 PM on 02/21/2012

Given his weak polling and his wisely "frugal" (as he puts it) use of campaign funds, Paul has to PRIORITIZE his fire power. Santorum is the frontrunner. He's the man to bring down at the moment. In addition, as the article points out, Santorum is not managing his campaign funds
very well and when this is added to his voting record, it should be clear that he is NOT the right choice at this point in America's history.
Unfortunately, voters tend to swallow slick campaign drivel instead of looking at the track record of the candidate. Obama's election was a stunning example of this tendency in voter behavior.
The loss of human lives in the ongoing wars SINCE Obama's election remains squarely on the
shoulders of unmindful US voters. This is why we are so lucky to have someone organized and motivated like Ron Paul to continually bring our attention back to the past performance of the various candidates. It's not the rhetoric it's the record!

[MothyBalz0169]

12:47 AM on 02/22/2012

Thank you.

[debekniss]

01:56 AM on 02/22/2012

kaygee

F&F Excellent post and yes Paul is the most consitant canidate out there and there is a hint who he is looking at for VP which I think will get things moving for Paul in a big way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YogY9nS4yoE

[YouthPolitics64]

08:34 PM on 02/21/2012

This is Smart. Paul may not win the nomination (I hope he does, but although lots can happen, I don't think Paul will get it), and Romney will if he doesn't. If Paul plays buddy-buddy with Romney, Mittens may be convinced to give him a prominent cabinet position or maybe (distant chance but maybe) a spot on the ticket. I know most people are the no one but Paul people, but if he's on the ticket or somewhere prominent on the cabinet, that's better than nothing (and personally, I would support Mittens over Obama).

[flossophy]

08:58 PM on 02/21/2012

Romney is not capable of defeating Obama. His electability is in serious doubt and independents are dropping him like a rock. 

If Ron continues to help establishment Mitt get the nomination... it's putting our country at r!sk.

[tammy76230]

10:53 PM on 02/21/2012

you are telling lies

[Mark Wharton]

12:51 AM on 02/22/2012

The people putting the country at risk are Santorum and Romney supporters.

[Nathan C]

10:36 PM on 02/21/2012

A more likely outcome: PAUL-ROMNEY 2012

[Sean Kruz]

01:17 AM on 02/22/2012

That would work, too... I agree, F & F

[jbouti]

03:56 PM on 02/22/2012

I like the Judge for VP. Can you imagine him and Biden squaring off ? Wow !

[Rosalee Harris]

05:23 PM on 02/21/2012

I was watching a clip of Ron Paul and they ask him if he thinks Rick Santorum can beat President Obama in 2012. Ron Paul said I dont think thats possible at all. I think this is particularly hillarious because if you ask Mitt or Newt or any of the other candidates if Rick santorum can defeat President Obama they quickly say Yes. In fact Mitt and Newt has said that any of the candidates on the republican ticket can beat the President. But its nice to see Ron paul keeping it real.

[lackoffaithless]

10:46 PM on 02/21/2012

Ron Paul's actually said all the GOP candidates can beat Obama too. Guess he changed his mind!

[Just logic]

08:50 AM on 02/22/2012

Paul didnt say all could beat he said all would be better than Obama. Thats a big difference.

[Markrsm]

02:28 AM on 02/22/2012

Dear Rosalee,

Like him or hate him, Mr Paul will tell you the truth, reason he has my vote.

[Reaniel]

05:00 AM on 02/22/2012

Dear Markrsm,

And it is the truth that I don't like about him.

So please stop lying.

[looneey]

05:09 PM on 02/21/2012

This is a dumb theory. How does Ron Paul staying in the race and preventing Romney from getting the delegates needed to win the nomination "help" Mitt???? Especially when Newt & Santorum were already splitting the evangelical vote the entire time. If anything Mitt would have preferred if Perry & Bachman stayed in the race to further split those votes instead of Paul.

Just another case of the media making up a story that really isn't there. This is nothing but an attack ad on the new frontrunner, plain & simple, really nothing new in the world of politics.

[flossophy]

06:00 PM on 02/21/2012

Like I said... If you followed the Paul campaign's method of spending millions going after the non-Romney candidates... while not saying a peep or laying a hand on the Mitt Machine... you will start to understand why this story is relevant. 

Since establishment Mitt has, by far, the most money and organization... he is still the likely nominee, simply because he could outspend & outIast the other candidates. If Ron is really interested in preventing Mitt from becoming the nominee, he would not be spending millions going after the candidates who have the ability to de-thr0ne Mitt from his perceived 'presumptive nominee' status. 

I think Ron's supporters should start asking some serious questions about his campaign 'strategy'.

[Joseph Peeler]

06:59 PM on 02/21/2012

You don't understand. Paul and Romney are not fishing in the same pond for voters. Everyone knows that Romney is an establishment guy that isn't going to rock the boat to much. There are a great many confused Republican voters that imagine that Santorum, Gingrich, and some of that past front-runners to be any different. None of them are going to change things too much.

Paul has done after the others because those voters that they attract are much more likely to go to him than Romney. There are identity Republicans that will vote for him because he can "beat Obama." That's all they care about. These voters have been vacillating between the non-Romney candidates for the last year.

Paul and Romney are cordial, but it's nothing more than that. They are opposed philosophically.

Paul wants it to be a choice between him and Romney. That's why he goes after the others. Romney doesn't view Paul as a threat to his base of supporters, and Paul doesn't view him as a threat to his base. They are both right.

Paul's strategy is a good one. So far he has brought down a number of candidates. This hasn't necessarily helped Romney because the more candidates that are in the field, the more the non-Romney vote is diluted.

The author of this piece is mistaken.

[Nathan C]

10:38 PM on 02/21/2012

I think this smart 76 year old's strategy is just fine without help from anonymous outsiders on the Interwebs, but thanks for your contribution

[redsongia]

04:22 PM on 02/21/2012

I really doubt Paul checked with Romney first. I'd love it if the media took off their Ron Paul blinders long enough to ask Paul what he thinks of Santorum's stance on insurance coverage for prenatal care.

[chris hatala]

04:17 PM on 02/21/2012

Paul has been paid off by Bishop Romney.

[Joseph Peeler]

07:02 PM on 02/21/2012

Oh, absurd. Paul and Romney are fishing for different voters. The voters that have now gone to the Santorum camp were formerly in the Gingrich, Perry, Bachmann, Cain camps. Paul knows that the establishment R voters are going to vote for Romney no matter what. Paul doesn't waste his time attacking Mitt for that reason. He wants it to be a choice between himself and Romney. That's why he goes after the others and not Romney. It's a smart strategy.

[flossophy]

07:15 PM on 02/21/2012

It's certainly not a smart strategy.

If Romney gets any momentum, nobody will be able to stop him... especially Paul. 

R.S., without much money or organization, was able to stop Romney... and now Paul is going after R.S... while establishment Mitt still has an enormous wa.rchest of Wall street money and a huge organization. 

If Ron is seriously interested in being a viabIe candidate... he would be going after Mitt, not R.S. (who is already a weak candidate). 

I am surprised that Ron supporters do not see this.

[sixtoes]

04:25 AM on 02/23/2012

Ron Paul cannot be bribed.

[edwcorey]

04:16 PM on 02/21/2012

The GOP field should be quarantined. It's full of very sick puppies.

[Joseph Peeler]

07:41 PM on 02/21/2012

Sure, we'll make sure to put them in the same holding cell as you.

[debekniss]

08:38 PM on 02/21/2012

edwcorey

speaking of puppies ... http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/13/romneys-dog-on-car-roof-story-makes-him-unfit-to-be-president/

[had410]

03:48 PM on 02/21/2012

A better headline would be "Ron Paul accelerates past the competition"

[MothyBalz0169]

01:14 AM on 02/22/2012

"another veteran voting for Ron Paul" same

[had410]

07:53 AM on 02/22/2012

I find it disturbing that Americans say "support the troops", and put yellow ribbons on their car, but don't really care what the troops think or how they feel about our foreign policy.http://www.youtube.com/user/EndorseLiberty?v=vts0tqsFcJ0

[jbouti]

05:55 PM on 02/22/2012

Or how about "Ron Paul taking down one front runner after another".

[had410]

06:08 PM on 02/22/2012

Ooh Rah!

[UncleSim]

03:32 PM on 02/21/2012

Riiiight... because Romney isn't also a phony conservative, one who implemented a liberal healthcare bill while in office.

I guess Santorum falling would never help Paul, himself, right? Or is HuffPo still drinking the political kool-aid, accepting that the stylistic differences between GOP and Dems actually amount to something substantial, thus relegating Paul's libertarianism as an 'unelectable' outsider force in American politics?

[debekniss]

08:51 PM on 02/21/2012

UncleSim

LOL 'unelectab­le' if you don't count
All the donations which came from the Armed Forces (more then any other running)
Those who want to see the FED aduited and most likely closed
Those who know the Wr on Drugs in a governmenr scam
Those who want a trillion cut from our National Debt
And those who agree we are not the WORLDS ATM
Those who want to see the money returned to SS/Medicare that was stolen for Obamacare
And those who agree our troops should be HOME protecting the USA.

I guess those votes don't count much huh?