The presidential campaign of Republican Ron Paul appears to have started picking up. Paul has been winning debates and his popularity appears to be growing. Besides, Paul also seems to be registering a growing presence on the internet, with support for his candidacy finding expression in various blogs, postings, and online polls.
Online polls are, however, not always the most reliable indicators of popularity for a candidate, There are many other factors at play—such as choosing to vote or not to, or being able to vote multiple times— which can influence ratings. These do not always reflect actual figures and may not be consistent with the actual figures and may have little, or nothing, to do with the actual ground realities.
That is not to say that Paul's internet presence may be completely without consequence. Most strategists agree that Internet popularity does produce a carry-over effect. Even a small dedicated group of supporters with the persistence to vote repeatedly could manage to ensure media coverage for Paul's candidacy.
A point in favor of Ron Paul is the strong support base that he enjoys among libertans. Many of them, who reject the other leading Republican candidates, have been only too happy to rally to his support. Besides, Paul's integrity, when he opposes issues such as a national ID card, and his pledge to end the IRS may go down well with the electorate.