Posted on Sun, Jan. 20, 2008

He spoke out against putting dope dealers in federal prison, opposed a bill to crack down on child pornography and voted against the Iraq War. Then Ron Paul announced that he was running for president -- as a Republican.

If that sounds like a recipe for failure, or perhaps a political fantasy, consider this: The Republican congressman from Texas had more money in the bank in October than Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee combined.

He's become an Internet sensation, raising millions of dollars online in December and is the only Republican contender who favors an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq. Paul, 72, is also the runaway favorite for reelection to Congress in his district, where the old ''LBJ law'' allows him to run for president and for Congress simultaneously. Democrats are so used to losing to him that they haven't even fielded a candidate yet, and probably won't.

''He's definitely an enigma,'' said Allen Cumbie, the head of the Democratic Party in Matagorda County, Texas. ``I don't even think he tries to get legislation passed that benefits this district . . . and yet he continues to be elected year after year.''

Paul's bedrock supporters have a ready answer: He's authentic.

They may not agree with or even understand all of Paul's views, which range from bringing back the gold standard to abolishing the Internal Revenue Service. But voters are attracted to Paul's honesty.

''You always know where he stands,'' said Texas gun dealer Alan Jones, whose engraved .22-caliber rifles have become popular auction items at Paul fundraisers.

A soft-spoken obstetrician who's delivered more than 4,000 babies, Paul has struck a chord both with little old ladies -- his ''Granny Warriors'' -- and dope-smoking libertarians. When he ran for president in 1988, High Times magazine ran a cover story titled, ``Ron Paul: Pro-Pot Presidential candidate.''

His views on abortion also have found common ground where usually there's none. He's resolutely against abortion but, as with illegal drugs and anti-pornography laws, he thinks that the federal government should butt out and let the states decide what to do.

Paul's fundraising has made him the surprise of the fall campaign, drawing more than $18 million in the final quarter of 2007.

What appears to be driving Paul's candidacy most is his fierce opposition to the Iraq War. He was one of only six Republicans in the House of Representatives to vote against it, and his calls for withdrawal make him stand out in both parties.

Paul views the war as illegal and financially unsustainable.

''They (terrorists) came over here because we were over there,'' Paul said last February. ``We occupy their territory. It would be like if the Chinese had their navy in the Gulf of Mexico.''

First elected to Congress in 1976, Paul returned to Congress in 1997, where his lonely tirades against the evils of big government have earned him the nickname ''Dr. No.'' If it's not in the U.S. Constitution, Paul generally opposes it.

Democrat Shane Sklar, a rancher who lost to Paul last year, said the congressman's supporters either didn't believe or didn't care that his votes had made him ineffective.

President Ron Paul? Sklar won't rule it out.

''I think people underestimate [him] . . .'' Sklar said. ``You can't ever take Ron Paul for granted.''