Paul's Views Make Him the Odd Man Out Among Republicans, Doom Presidential Run

COMMENTARY | Texas Congressman Ron Paul has formed an exploratory committee, one of the first concrete steps potential candidates take when they are going to run for president. He's a very conservative Republican, at least fiscally.

Paul has run for the nomination before, and although he has fervent supporters, he hasn't been able to take his candidacy to the next level. What are three factors that held him back in the past, and will likely do so again?

Ron Paul wants to deeply cut the defense budget

Cutting defense spending is seen as necessary to any real talks about budget reduction, and Paul understands that. He would end American military involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, and would close most of the military bases America has scattered over the world.

Paul has cautioned against the same military-industrial complex Dwight Eisenhower did, and that's not a popular position with today's conservatives. Paul has even spoken what is considered heresy by most on the right by saying our actions encourage Islamic fundamentalism. Any candidate wishing to win the Republican nomination will have to join the anti-Muslim hysteria.

"I think it's absolutely unnecessary to sacrifice. It's unnecessary. We can cut by looking at our foreign policy. We maintain an empire which we can't afford. We have 700 bases overseas. We are in 130 countries. We cut there, and then we have a better defense of this country, and the people get that money and they get to spend it here at home. There's no need to sacrifice," Paul said in 2007.

Ron Paul's views on social issues don't win on either side

Paul's voting record is staunchly against working families and education programs. He is no fan of Medicare or Social Security, and would eliminate almost all federal social programs. His social platform is counter to everything progressives want to see.

As for conservatives, Paul doesn't win many friends on social issues either. He would repeal most federal drug laws, and acknowledges the War on Drugs is a failure and unfairly targets African Americans. Paul is not in favor of federal prohibitions against gay marriage, and he would "protect all voluntary associations."

While there are portions of Paul's platform that appeal to either side, his negatives with each are far too high for him to garner much support.

Ron Paul isn't enough of a corporate candidate

The Republican nomination for 2012, especially in light of the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court allowing unlimited corporate donations, will go to a candidate fully supportive of the corporate agenda.

Paul wants to do away with trade agreements like NAFTA but supports corporate power. His mixed record on corporations earned him a 67 percent rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of the lowest ratings for Republicans in Congress and not nearly high enough to be able to raise big corporate dollars.

With so many positions seen as negatives to one side or the other, Paul cannot win

His candidacy is smirked at by mainstream Republicans and his stance on social issues will prevent him from getting votes from the evangelical base, making a nomination a tough road. Should Paul overcome and win the nomination, his radical positions on education, Social Security, and health care would doom him.