Why Ron Paul Placed Second in Iowa Straw Poll

COMMENTARY | Ron Paul is a maverick. He is a businessman who is the anti-politician. So I'm not surprised he came in second in Iowa. Winner Michele Bachmann beat the congressman by only a slim margin and outspent him by a mile. What I like about Ron Paul is the fact he wants to get rid of the Federal Reserve and let the people control the money supply.

That view must come across as extreme to the other candidates. Even though they might have poo pooed him as a serious contender before, they have to be taking him seriously now. I used to think this country wasn't ready for anyone as forward-thinking as Congressman Ron Paul, but now with Iowans clearly in his corner, maybe his time is now.

Sure, Michele Bachmann won, but does she have the moxie to go up against charismatic Gov. Rick Perry who just entered the race? Honestly, lack of charisma could eventually be Paul's undoing. Let's face it. The guy isn't all that flashy on camera. And to me, that's a good thing. Because in my opinion, charm got Barack Obama into the White House, not substance. So finding a polar opposite to the white teeth and movie star looks is a refreshing change. But can you win a campaign without a little camera presence? I'm not sure.

Perry is pro-business, but he's not the businessman Paul personifies. Still, you can't overlook what the governor's done in Texas as far as balancing the budget and creating jobs. I know, opponents claim he had nothing to do with it. Texas is an energy-rich state. Sure, but there are plenty of other highly productive states that still can't seem to balance their budgets. It will be interesting to see how these two Texans battle it out in the coming months.

Was Perry smart to avoid the Iowa straw poll? Absolutely. He took the wind out of the sails of all the candidates tromping around the fairgrounds. Mitt Romney may still be the front-runner, but you have to admit Paul grabbed the momentum and I'm hoping ... won't let go. And just maybe the other candidates will learn; and chime in on Paul's anti-big government stance, instead of reverting back to typical mainstream responses.