Paul Revels in GOP Rebel Role

Republican with libertarian leanings could harness Tea Partiers

(NEWSER) - Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, hoping to catch the rising tide of Tea Party-style populist anger, has been polishing up his quirky libertarian bona fides for what looks like a run at the presidency in 2012. Though Johnson is cagey, he has made it clear he’s sticking with the Republican Party, drawing inevitable comparisons to Ron Paul. But insiders agree the younger, suaver governor is a more viable candidate. More»

"Lone wolf''s" campaign gains traction with the young and wired

(NEWSER) - Most Americans know him—if at all— as the firebrand Texas congressman who’s always pushed to the end of the line during debates. Ron Paul flounders at the bottom of national polls, but he's is the most “friended” Republican on myspace.com. And he's the lone GOP presidential candidate who opposes the Iraq war. His solution to the mess, he tells the New York Times: “Just leave.” More»

'Very' and 'Somewhat' conservatives went Gingrich, 'liberals' went Romney

(NEWSER) - So how did Newt Gingrich pull off his stunning upset in South Carolina yesterday? Unsurprisingly, by appealing to conservatives, writes Politico . Exit polls indicate that 45% of people calling themselves "very conservative" went to Gingrich, vs. 20% to Rick Santorum and 10% to Ron Paul—Mitt Romney took just 20% of them. Gingrich also won among "somewhat conservative" voters and independents. Romney won "moderate or liberal" voters. More»

Santorum shined but it was Newt's night, pundits say

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul all had their moments in last night's GOP debate, but it was Newt Gingrich's night thanks to his fiery first five minutes , pundits say.

• Rick Santorum took the fight to Gingrich and Romney and was the "central mover in the debate," but Newt's condemnation of the media was "his finest hour in the race," writes Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post . He took a potential weak spot and "turned it into a moment of considerable strength." Romney, for the first time, "found a compelling message when it came to questions about his considerable personal wealth," he notes.

The demographics are awfully similar

(NEWSER) - On his show Monday, Stephen Colbert urged his supporters to take to the polls in South Carolina thusly: "Independents, Democrats, college kids, viewers of my show … my good friends on Reddit, young people of the Internet—stand up and shout!" Hmm. Does that list of people sound familiar? Because Peter Grier of the Christian Science Monitor thinks it sounds a lot like a list of people who would otherwise support Ron Paul, who is also relying on young, independent voters. More»