Can Ron Paul defeat Barack Obama?

I grudgingly voted for John McCain in 2008. He would have done a better job than Barack Obama, but I doubt he would have done a good job. During the Republican primary, we had people like Rudy Giuliani who appeared afraid to disagree with the other candidates, and Mitt Romney who changes his views every time the wind blows. Out of all the candidates, there was only one I could have completely supported: Ron Paul.

Paul is one of the few politicians who actually seems to give thought to his positions. His beliefs and opinions are rooted in the Constitution and are independent of the latest opinion polls and what happens to be politically expedient that day. If Ron Paul were President, I have no doubt the country would be better off today.

Now, I see that Ron Paul’s profile is rising. In a new Rasmussen poll, Ron Paul and Barack Obama are virtually tied when voters are asked who they would choose (41% to 42%). Could Ron Paul actually win the nomination and defeat Barack Obama?

I have no doubt Americans would be impressed with Ron Pauls intelligence, principled opinions, and experience. He’s far different than the typical politician, which would resonate with voters. The only problem is that Paul is not well-known among casual political observers and is usually ignored by the media. Paul needs to mobilize his supporters and raise funds. The Nation’s future depends on it.

The same poll found that nearly half of Americans believe GM will need another bailout, 61% believe Congress should drop healthcare reform, and 66% believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. It doesn’t look like American’s are fond of the Obama agenda.

Since Scott Brown’s win in the Massachusetts Senate race, some Democrats have seemed more willing to compromise. They recognize that with their 41st vote, Republicans will need to have some say in legislation. Of course, that might not stop them from attempting to bribe two Republicans into voting for a watered-down bill. I don’t think it’s likely they could get two Republicans to travel to the dark side, but you never know.

At any rate, attempts to continue to push Barack Obama’s plan will end up hurting the Democrats in November. Barack Obama’s thirst for a larger, more intrusive government will decimate the ranks of Democrats in November and render them ineffective in the second half of the President’s term. They will blame Republicans for not getting anything done, but in the end, they will have no one to blame but themselves.

The President has seen a consistent downward trend in his approval ratings. His waning popularity could bode well for the defeat of the health care and cap-and-trade bills, among others. There will also likely be less pressure on moderates to blindly follow his lead. If his ratings were this low when the stimulus bill were being debated, there’s a good chance it wouldn’t have been passed, or would have at least looked very different.

The President’s approval rating might also be a harbinger of the 2010 midterm elections. If a growing number of Americans are dissatisfied with his policies, why would they continue to vote members of his party into office?