Republican Contenders Unite Against Ron Paul in Iowa Caucuses

Ron Paul, the 76-year-old Texan congressman, has been the target of a unified effort by Republican contenders to undermine his chances in the Iowa caucuses next week. Newt Gingrich, who was once seen as a front-runner, has joined forces with Mitt Romney to portray Paul's views as "totally outside the mainstream" of American politics. The National Review, a leading publication of the Republican establishment, has also accused Paul of lying, a stern rebuke for a candidate known for his honesty and consistency.

Key Takeaways:

• Ron Paul is currently leading in the Iowa polls with 24% support, ahead of Mitt Romney at 20%, according to a recent Public Policy Polling survey.
• Newt Gingrich has publicly stated that Paul's views are "totally outside the mainstream" and has even suggested that he might vote for President Obama in a head-to-head match-up.
• Mitt Romney has launched a strong attack on Paul's foreign policy, labeling it "isolationist" and stating that Paul thinks it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
• The Paul campaign has been dismissed by Romney as a "childish outburst," but the other camps have been intensifying their efforts to discredit Paul.
• Dr. Paul has attempted to contain the fallout from racist, anti-Israel, and antigay comments in his newsletters from the 1980s and 1990s.
• Romney's campaign has invested over $1 million in television adverts in Iowa and has relocated staff from Boston to the state.

Statistics:

• Ron Paul's support in Iowa stands at 24%, with Mitt Romney trailing at 20% (Public Policy Polling).
• Dr. Paul has spent his entire career on the fringes of politics, but his Iowa campaign has given him a strong chance to challenge the mainstream Republican field.
• Due to the close nature of the race, the full force of the opposing campaigns has been unleashed on Dr. Paul, with some candidates calling for his disqualification.

Sources:

• Public Policy Polling.
• The Times.
• CNN.
• National Review.