Ron Paul, Second in New Hampshire, Could Be the Anti-Romney

COMMENTARY | Tuesday night marked the end of the New Hampshire primary with Mitt Romney once again taking the lead. The Associated Press released results with 96 percent of precincts reporting showing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in first place with an impressive 39 percent of the vote. Texas congressman Ron Paul fell in second with 23 percent and Jon Huntsman managed a surprising third with 17 percent of the vote. All the other candidates finished in the single digits.

With Iowa and New Hampshire finished, a long primary campaign remains to be seen. If the results are anything to go by however, the field of candidates is slowly narrowing down to two. Paul has continued surprise many in the media and the Republican Party. Romney continues to win and stay ahead in the polls, despite a great deal of discontent in the GOP whose members are reluctantly accepting him as their last option for the 2012 race.

Many candidates have risen and fallen as the Romney alternative, but all have proven to be “flavors of the week” that would quickly lose their savor. Gingrich, for example has had a poor showing in both Iowa and New Hampshire, which he blames in part on Pro-Romney Super PAC campaigning which he referred to as “Romney Boating.” Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had an impressive showing in Iowa, where he came in second. He, however, has faltered in New Hampshire and will likely continue to do so in most independent and moderate states.

The real question on the GOP’s mind though, is “Who can beat Obama?” Once again only two candidates show real promise. According to the latest CBS News Poll, Paul and Romney fall within the margin of error in a statistical tie with the president for the election of 2012. All of the other candidates lie gently out of reach for the White House.

A long primary campaign lies ahead for the Republican nominee to be, but as time goes and the race heats up one reality slowly comes to surface: If the Republicans are still looking for the Anti-Romney candidate, Paul just might be the way to go.

Steven Shepard, Poll: Romney, Paul Tie Obama, National Journal
Trip Gabriel, Gingrich Says He’s Been ‘Romney Boated’, New York Times


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