Paul talks respect, cash, legalizing hemp
Posted: Monday, December 17, 2007 4:23 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann and NBC's Andy Merten
DES MOINES, IA -- For Ron Paul, it's about respect.
After a record $6 million-dollar haul from a single day of fundraising yesterday, Paul says that his campaign is gaining steam and his message is showing its resonance. And, he says, he's finally getting some street cred.
"Actually, there's a better rapport now with other Republicans when I go on the House floor," he said in response to a question about how fellow Republicans are reacting to his alternative anti-war message. "I think they respect fundraising. And their antennas are up!"
"They're having trouble raising money," he added. "So there's some respect for this."
Paul's record-breaking fundraising haul -- almost entirely organized online by activists not directly connected to the campaign -- is raising eyebrows here in Iowa, where Paul could potentially be a spoiler to a more mainstream candidate if he finds a way to mobilize his supporters. With the big bucks, he said, "we'll continue to buy television, do a lot of radio, a lot of direct mail."
Paul also said that the "surprising" take lends some legitimacy to his run, but that it's disheartening that it's only cash that has attracted media attention. "It looks to me like money talks," he said. "I'd like to think ideas talk."
The Texas congressman, who held a brief press conference here to address his fundraising, said that he may not have enough time to “harness all this momentum and all this money coming in” before Iowa, but that he believes his campaign is now in “good shape” to last through the February 5th primaries and caucuses.
Asked how he expects to do in the Iowa caucuses, Paul replied, “I think we’re going to do well,” he said. “I’m not making any predictions; I’d be very disappointed if I came in last, of course.”
Despite the new respectability, Paul's not letting his less conventional side go. Responding to a question about ethanol subsidies, he demonstrated the free-hearted sentiment that has garnered support among libertarians and new young voters. "I think there's a chance that you might get more ethanol if you raised hemp," he responded. "But hemp is illegal in this country. So in my idea of a free society, a farmer would be allowed to raise hemp."
"Not only would that be a good product possibly to make ethanol," he concluded excitedly. "There might be a whole lot of other products you could make with hemp. Like the Canadians do!"
Paul also repeated that he has no plans to run as an independent, should he not win the GOP nomination.
