Ron Paul Rally
It’s becoming more and more clear to me why Ron Paul’s campaign is being referred to by many as a the Ron Paul rEVOLution.
Two nights ago was the republican presidential debate in Dearborn, Michigan. There was a rally held outside the debate, on Michigan Avenue. Originally, all protesters and supporters were kept in a small “free speech” pen behind the building out of anyone’s sight, but most Ron Paul supporters know their rights too well to be told they aren’t allowed to peacefully demonstrate on public property. So the rally was moved to the median on the avenue. In all I would estimate a turnout of about 150-200 Ron Paul supporters. Not bad considering it was held during typical working hours.
The only other candidates that had supporters outside the event were Mitt Romney (~15) and Fred Thompson (~5, who apparently remained in the pen…or went home early).
I was unable to watch the debate in its entirety but from what I did see and what was reported, it was a typical national debate where Dr. Paul had very little time to address the viewers, relative to the other candidates. But as usual, he was the only one offering logical solutions to economic woes; specifically economic policy that would greatly benefit Michigan’s ailing economy.
Following the debate was another Ron Paul Rally on the diag at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. This was the largest rally I have ever seen on campus, with a crowd easily topping 2,000 people. I have heard as high as 3,000 but you can see for yourself in the videos below.
For a republican candidate to draw an enthusiastically supportive group of that size, on the University of Michigan’s campus is very telling. It gave me a lot of hope for this movement of freedom, peace, and prosperity. It truly is revolutionary.
Dr. Paul spoke to the attentive crowd for nearly an hour, receiving applause after every point he made. He probably received the loudest cheers when he called for the abolition of the IRS and an end to the Iraq occupation.
When he was finished speaking, hundreds of people swarmed the steps of the library, to shake his hand, get a picture with him, or have him sign stickers, books and yard signs. I even saw a few people having him sign money, which he did without flinching.
Dr. Paul continued to sign autographs for an hour, eventually having to leave some disappointed people. But he was very gracious to do it for that long. The entire time, his wife, Carol, sat on a nearby bench chatting with students.
The Rally Made the front page of the Ann Arbor News and the Michigan Daily.
Debate rally and diag rally footage: