Presidential contender Ron Paul says he is not surprised that his poll numbers show he is running close behind front-runner Newt Gingrich among voters expected to cast ballots in the upcoming Iowa caucuses, as his campaign has “been working to that end.” The Texas congressman also told Fox News’ Neal Cavuto Wednesday he now believes he can win Iowa.
“Well, I guess that is very possible now, and the numbers are more or less what many of us in our campaign had expected, because we have been working to that end, and we have been organizing and doing the things we are supposed to do,” Paul said. “But I also think that there is a very powerful message that we have been delivering.
“And it is very appropriate, and I think the people do need some answers to our problems. And I have talked about economics for a long time — I have talked about bubbles, and how we got into this trouble, and what we ought to do,” he said. “And I have proposed significant cuts — and, quite frankly, I think we are giving a lot of answers to the questions that so many people across the country are asking.”
Cavuto asked since Paul is nipping at Gingrich’s heels, whether he is concerned that he might come under a full frontal attack from other Republican hopefuls at Thursday night’s Fox News GOP presidential debate in Iowa.
“Well, that is always possible — but, for some reason, it seems like they have been pretty courteous to me — and I think that they have worked out at least on the assumption up to now that they do not want to offend my supporters, because maybe they would like to have an alliance with them,” Paul said. “But, no, I think you are right. I think people who lead get a lot of criticism — and I would think that I have been challenged on my views for a long, long time. As a matter of fact, I have been challenged more than the rest of them have. And as long as they challenge me on the appropriateness of my views, I think I better be able to answer them.
“But I think I have the ammunition to defend a balanced budget, and cutting spending, and looking into the Federal Reserve,” he said. “And finally addressing the subject of a runaway interventionist foreign policy, which is draining us so much and a good place where we can cut some money that wouldn’t hurt our people back here at home.”
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