Why Ron Paul Can't Win

Ron Paul has struck a chord with what some columnists and bloggers define as "disaffected Republicans". It's true that he has massed an incredible amount of support, funds, and a grass roots campaign that is a major source of irritation to the more established candidates. But Ron Paul has failed to float to the top of the national conciousness in terms of the Presidential race. Even as early as it is, there really doesn't seem to be much of a chance for Paul to win his own party's endorsement, let alone a national mandate to run the country.

Some columnists point out that Paul does not look or present himself in a "presidential" way. This will be his undoing on many fronts. His tendency to glaze his listeners' eyes over with talk of the gold standard and other concepts outside the pale of the grasp of "Joe Six-Pack" is another strike against Paul. But the real problem with Ron Paul is that he has failed to capture the attention of the media. And like it or not, folks, the mainstream press counts for a massive part of the image of a candidate.

Ron Paul supporters strongly disagree with my assertions that Paul needs the mainstream media. They claim that I don't "get" Paul's grassroots support or his message. Many of his supporters believe I've missed the boat entirely. But it's Paul's failure to capture the attention of the mainstream media that will be his doom at the polls. Consider for a moment the groundswell of support going into the primaries that Howard Dean enjoyed once upon a time, until the fateful "scream" incident that cost him his spot in the race.

One single moment of lost control and his entire game was over before you could say "Dewey Beats Truman".