By Hao Li: Subscribe to Hao's RSS feed
January 14, 2012 9:40 AM EST
Ron Paul's 2012 campaign's ultimate success will likely depended on evangelical support.
If Evangelicals back Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich or Rick Perry - or they split their vote among multiple candidates - Mitt Romney would win (and Paul would come in second).
If they spilt their vote between Romney and Paul, Romney would likely win.
If they overwhelmingly support Paul, Paul would beat Romney and win the 2012 Republican nomination.
One thing is clear: evangelicals clearly do not like Romney. They do not like his Mormon faith, his soft stance on social issues and his reputation as an untrustworthy, flip-flopping politician.
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As I write this article Saturday morning, prominent evangelical leaders are reportedly meeting at a ranch in Texas to pick an evangelical candidate to back in hopes of derailing Romney's nomination.
According to TIME's Elizabeth Dias, Perry, Gingrich and Santorum are the candidates they are considering. Ron Paul is not included.
Evangelicals should, however, take a second look at him.
Viable 'Anti' Candidate
Paul is the only viable anti-Romney candidate. Besides Romney, he is the only candidate who scored a top-tier finish in Iowa and New Hampshire and polls top-tier in South Carolina.
He likely raised the most money in 2011 after Romney. He is also the only one besides Romney to have a national presence and a credible national strategy.
There is one more reason to back Paul: if Perry, Gingrich and Santorum wins the Republican nomination, he will likely be crushed in a general election against President Obama. Polls have consistently shown that only Paul and Romney can put up a fight against the President.
Pro-Life
Paul is an obstetrician by trade and delivered over 4,000 babies; never once did he perform an abortion. He even steered women considering abortion to alternative choices like adoption. He staunchly believes that the life begins at conception.
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