Rep. Ron Paul suddenly finds himself dealing with the blowback: a handful of Tea Party-inspired candidates are seeking to dislodge him in the Texas Republican primary.
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Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-oriented Republican whose 2008 presidential run provided kindling for the Tea Party movement, suddenly finds himself dealing with the blowback: a handful of tea party-inspired candidates are seeking to dislodge him in Tuesday's Texas Republican primary.
It's an unusual turn of events for a veteran congressman who has reached stardom in conservative populist circles and who just last week emerged as the victor of the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Yet despite his solid anti-establishment credentials and non-conformist views, Paul finds himself under siege from three Republicans who are embracing many of the themes that have defined Paul's career. At the heart of the resistance is the notion that the 10-term Paul has gone Washington, abandoning his constituents as he pursues his white whale--the presidency.
"To be honest, I was surprised when these guys started coming out of the woodwork," said Fort Bend County GOP Chairman Rick Miller. "They're trying to tap into the idea that it's time for a new face. It's a sign of the times. It's what's happening in our country."
Paul remains the favorite in the race but the opposition clearly has him looking over his shoulder.
In a January email alert titled "They've Turned Their Attack Dogs Loose On Me!", Paul warns that both parties are "doing everything they can to make sure I am defeated."
"These candidates include three Republicans in my own primary on March 2," he wrote, "and they will stop at nothing to tear down and destroy all we have worked for."
Richard Murray, a University of Houston political scientist, said strong anti-incumbent winds are buffeting even members like Paul who have never been embraced by the political establishment.
"You've got this throw the bums out factor, and it doesn't matter if they have an R, a D, or an L next to their name," he said.
As they crisscross the small towns that encompass outer edge of Houston and the Gulf Coast, Paul's foes are also branding him as more interested in running for president than serving the residents of the 14th Congressional District.
"Where are you Congressman Paul?" reads the website of Tim Graney, a small business owner who is one of the Republicans running against Paul. At a debate last week, John Gay, another Paul challenger, took a shot at the congressman's national political organization, Campaign for Liberty: "I applaud Dr. Paul for what he's done and I want him to retire and do the things that he likes to do and run the foundations that he's started."
"He's not doing the job of the U.S. House. He should be here in the district listening to us," Graney said in an interview this week. "At the end of the day, his Campaign for Liberty is a good cause, but he shouldn't be doing that on our time."
Gerald Wall, a chemical worker who is also challenging Paul, echoed their criticisms.
"The problem with Ron Paul is that he doesn't spend any time representing his people," he said. "Everyone knows that if we elect him to Congress he will spend one month in Congress and 18 months running for president."
Jim Webb, a Texas GOP precinct chair in Brazoria County, said the idea of Paul as an absentee landlord was gaining resonance in the district.
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