Paul, uninvited to GOP forum, attracts a loyal flock for rally

His call for an immediate end to the Iraq war elicits his event's loudest reaction.

BY THOMAS BEAUMONT AND JASON CLAYWORTH
REGISTER STAFF WRITERS

July 1, 2007

Outsider Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul headlined a raucous campaign rally Saturday after a multi-candidate GOP forum in Des Moines to which the Texas congressman was not invited.

An audience of more than 600 GOP activists turned out for the Paul event, held in Hy-Vee Hall next door to where six candidates addressed a subdued crowd of much the same size earlier. Click here for more.

Editor's Note: I was among a group of some 40-50 Ron Paul supporters who travelled from the Chicago area. We were eye witnesses to a much greater crowd. I spoke to the local organizers who estimated that upward of 1000+ individuals attended this event which was a smashing success by any measure - food, fun, song/music, positive energy, Ron Paul's speech and his humble act of staying behind to take time to talk to hundreds of his supporters after his speech.