Senator Paul Campaigning in Iowa with Rep. Paul
Article audio sponsored by The John Birch Society

For those Iowans supporting Ron Paul’s campaign for the presidency, there’s only one thing better than a Paul, and that’s two Pauls. On Monday, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) will be joined on the campaign trail in the Hawkeye State by his son, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The Ron Paul 2012 campaign is calling the father-son stumping “a daylong whistle-stop tour.” After ringing in the New Year at home in Texas, Ron Paul will hit the ground running for a final swing through Iowa one day before Republicans in that state cast votes in the nation’s first caucus of 2012.

Regarding the senior Paul's surging poll numbers, the campaign's Iowa spokesman, Drew Ivers, issued a statement claiming that the former obstetrician and reliable champion of the Constitution will achieve "a strong top-three finish" in Iowa.

That seems to be an attainable goal as recent polling data shows Paul running neck and neck with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

The Pauls will visit five cities on their tour, with the first stop being a meet-and-greet at the Marriott Downtown in the capital city of Des Moines.

Despite the undeniable surge of popularity propelling Ron Paul to the top tier of many polls, in an appearance on CBS's Face the Nation, Rand Paul was informed by host Bob Schieffer that he "doesn't know a single impartial observer who thinks that he [Ron Paul] could wind up getting the nomination, let alone winning in a general election."

Senator Paul rode to his father's defense, informing Schieffer that "Ron Paul is the only one getting significant Independent vote and Democrat vote. So I actually see Ron Paul as the one Republican who could reach across the boundaries of party, collect a lot of people who don't vote normally and really energize the party." "I think he could win by bringing in the Independents," he added.

While Ron Paul and Mitt Romney sit atop the field of GOP contenders for the White House in the most recent poll of likely Republican voters in Iowa, a breakdown of the daily data reveals a surge in support for Rick Santorum. 

According to CBS News: "Romney secured 24 percent support in the survey, conducted Tuesday through Friday, with Paul coming in at 22 percent — within the poll's four point margin of error. Santorum followed with 15 percent. Newt Gingrich came next with 12 percent support, followed by Rick Perry with 11 percent and Michele Bachman with 7 percent."

When polls conducted only on Thursday and Friday are segregated from the overall numbers, Rick Santorum is polling at 21 percent support.

During his Face the Nation interview, Rand Paul addressed the apparent ascension of Rick Santorum, calling the former Pennsylvania senator a "fair weather conservative" with "a lot of things to overcome." Senator Paul pointed out that Santorum has "really been a big government moderate. And a lot of people don't know that because he hasn't surged to the top yet so he hasn't had much scrutiny. When he has scrutiny, he is going to have some of the same problems that some of the other fair weather conservatives have had," Paul concluded.

Certainly no fair weather friends of the Constitution, both father and son are favorites among libertarians, constitutionalists, and many tea party members. Ron Paul is viewed by many to be the father of the tea party movement while Rand was carried to Capitol Hill on a wave of tea party support in a very contentious Senate race.

Given Ron Paul's unrepentant libertarian leanings and his opposition to the populous hawkish wing of the Republican Party, including their foreign policy positions on the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, among others, Rand Paul was asked Sunday morning if his father was really a Republican at all. He responded:

I would say he's different in the sense that he believes with foreign policy we should only go to war if Congress declares war. And because he believes that way, he has a reluctance to go to war. But I think there are a lot of Americans who are tired after ten years. We lost five thousand soldiers or nearly five thousand soldiers in Iraq. The rest of the Republican field is beating the drums and jumping up and down and saying, oh, no, I'll bomb Iran first. Well, beginning a new war should be something that is done very reluctantly in consultation with Congress. And I think we don't want people who are eager to go to war. And I think many Republicans also understand that. That's why his crowds are growing.

Despite Ron Paul's disagreement with many key planks of the Republican platform, he told CNN's State of the Union that he has "no plans" to run for President as third-party candidate should he fail to receive the Republican nomination. "I haven't even thought about it except when people like you keep asking me about it," he said. "I'm essentially tied for first place.  Why would I even consider doing anything like that?" he added.

Before heading off to New Hampshire to close the gap between himself and Mitt Romney, Ron Paul will take the show on the road, offering what is sure to be very persuasive evidence that he can win his party's nomination and that he should he be elected he would faithfully adhere to every word of the presidential oath of office, preserving, protecting, and defending the Constitution of the United States on every issue, every time, without exception.

As his Iowa spokesman indicated, there is something very historic about a sitting U.S. Senator campaigning for his father who himself is currently serving in the Congress. Such an opportunity is rare, and given the opportunity, it isn't an event to be missed.

For Iowans interested in being witnesses to history in the making or in hearing the case for Dr. Paul as presented by the candidate and his son the Senator, the five-city tour schedule as announced by the campaign is provided below:

Monday, January 2, 2012

 

10:00 a.m.

Sen. Rand Paul live in-studio with Jan Mickelson*

WHO Radio

2141 Grand Ave.

Des Moines, IA 50312

 

11:15 a.m.

Polk County Whistle Stop

Des Moines Marriott Downtown — Salon D

700 Grand Ave.

Des Moines, IA 50309

 

1:00 p.m.

Scott County Whistle Stop

SteepleGate Inn — Williamsburg Room

100 W 76th St.

Davenport, IA 52806

 

2:30 p.m.

Linn County Whistle Stop

The Hotel at Kirkwood Center — Atrium

7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW

Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

 

4:00 p.m.

Black Hawk County Whistle Stop

Park Place (PIPAC) Event Centre

1521 Technology Parkway

Cedar Falls, IA 50613

 

5:30 p.m.

Cerro Gordo County Whistle Stop

Prime 'N Wine

3000 4th St. SW (Hwy. 122 West)

Mason City, IA 50401

 

Photo: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) applauds on stage at a campaign event for his father, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), at a hotel in Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 10, 2011: AP Images.