To the surprise and disarray of the Republican establishment, Congressman and OB/GYN Dr. Ron Paul, placed second in todays Nevada Caucus. A strong showing of independent voters pushed him above every single Republican candidate excluding Mitt Romney.
Romney may have won the Nevada caucus, but the biggest story of the day just might be Ron Paul's silver finish. His
14% was enough to edge out McCain's 13%.
CNN's entrance polls show that independent voters were a key factor in Dr. Paul's finish. 51% of self-described independent voters chose Paul. McCain was second in the category with 13%, followed by Romney with 12%.
Individuals who said they had "No Religion" were also more likely to vote for Paul, giving him 42% of their vote. Romney was second among those with "No Religion" with 24% of the vote.
The reason for Dr. Paul's outstanding showing in Nevada may be that his pro-freedom message rings louder in the western states. In some areas of Nevada, for instance, prostitution is legal. Perhaps they realize that a Ron Paul administration would be very unlikely to meddle in their business.
Could a western state like California, where medical marijuana facilities are frequently raided by the federal government, also be receptive to the 10-term congressman's message?
Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure : The Ron Paul Revolution is not over. In fact, it is just getting started.
