9 days away!

What is Mitt Romney afraid of?

When news came out that Big Government establishment Republican Mitt Romney was just going to skip all straw polls from here on out, I couldn't help but chuckle...  After we beat him fair and square at CPAC and, more recently, the Southern Republican Leadership Straw Poll in New Orleans, he must be tired of losing!

But the truth is, the decision to skip the Iowa Straw Poll is a sign of weakness - and one that gives you and me a real opening we MUST exploit.

That's why I'm counting on you to act IMMEDIATELY.

You see, right now, all eyes are on Iowa.  And unlike other polls, the August 13 Iowa Straw Poll isn't one the media can spend weeks hyping and then simply dismiss.

The Iowa Straw Poll has always been a crucial bellwether for the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses.  It can turn a candidate into an instant contender - or CRUSH any hope of future success with a poor showing.

This year, the Iowa Straw Poll is more important than ever.

Many GOP voters are repulsed with establishment frontrunner Romney's flip-flopping on key issues.  They're not happy with his liberal record as Governor of Massachusetts and his signature health care bill that served as the model for "ObamaCare."

Governor Romney isn't even bothering to try to soothe grassroots misgivings by showing up at the most important straw poll in the nation.

That's why, right now, many GOP voters are desperately searching for a candidate who can go toe-to-toe with Governor Romney.  Some candidates get handed the chance to do just that, then swing and miss on live TV.

Well, that won't be me.  While we should be civil and keep campaigns about issues, I'm not going to sit back and let someone try to pull the wool over your eyes, either.

This race is too important.  Our COUNTRY is too important.

Right now, columnists, TV pundits, talk radio hosts, and national media commentators are all looking to the Iowa Straw Poll to see which candidate or candidates have what it takes to take on Mitt Romney and win.  And with my record of NEVER toeing the establishment line, I am the LAST candidate they want to acknowledge as a top contender.

So I'm counting on you to help me send shockwaves throughout the national political establishment with a strong finish at the Iowa Straw Poll.

The good news is, you and I are stunning the political establishment at virtually every turn.

I reported an incredible $4.5 million fundraising take on June 30th – MORE than I had originally hoped for!

Poll after national primary poll shows my campaign within striking distance of first place, and grassroots support for my campaign is growing by leaps and bounds.

Just four years ago, my opponents took every opportunity they could to scoff at my limited government, constitutional views in Presidential debates.  They've been proven wrong.

And now, as you and I saw in the recent New Hampshire debate, my opponents are falling all over themselves to see who can agree with me the most!  But here's what they won't tell you: their Big Government, big spending views haven't really changed, of course.

They are just being FORCED to recognize that the American people are flat-out sick of being taxed, groped, spied on, and spent into bankruptcy - just as I predicted.

You see, I warned of the housing bubble and the Federal Reserve's "print now, ask questions later," dollar-destroying policies.

I opposed the bailouts and loudly and forcefully explained why they were not only morally wrong, but would make things WORSE.

I argued against never-ending, TRILLION-dollar occupations and unpopular, undeclared wars like President Obama's new outrageous misadventure in Libya.

And if elected President, I will:

·         Stop the spread of socialist, Big Government health care and instead work to repeal the "ObamaCare" monstrosity;

·         Stop the growth of government spending, restrictive regulations, and interference in our lives;

·         Cut taxes and eliminate the IRS, because I believe the money you earn is yours and does NOT belong to government;

·         Audit the Federal Reserve, which I believe will serve as an important first step toward finally ending the Fed once and for all;

·         Ensure the federal government returns to its constitutional limits by eliminating departments and agencies that are not authorized by the Constitution;

·         Repeal Big Government schemes like the so-called "PATRIOT Act";

·         Return to the Founders' more humble foreign policy.  American troops and taxpayers deserve better than to be used for "nation-building" or policing the world.  We cannot afford trillion dollar international boondoggles that cost us our lives, our fortunes, and our freedom.

No matter how hard they try, the national media and the GOP political establishment CANNOT dismiss my campaign.

That's because the momentum is with us.  My campaign will only get stronger as the weeks and months progress.

In fact, you and I don't even need to win the Iowa Straw Poll outright.  But a strong showing on August 13 is our chance to show that my campaign has the organization and the message to stand toe-to-toe with any opponent.

And if you and I can capitalize on a top-tier finish in the Straw Poll with a massive blitz of campaign stops, media interviews, and paid ads, we'll be laying the groundwork for a WIN in the Iowa caucuses.

But to make it happen, I need to be able to count on you.  In fact, I need to raise $1.4 million before the Straw Poll kicks off.  If I can't, I'm afraid I'm going to have to curtail some of my most critical on-the-ground activities both before and after the Straw Poll.

This would be nothing short of a DISASTER.

As you may know, I've been crisscrossing Iowa for months, explaining why I believe a hard-and-fast return to the Constitution is what our nation needs right now.  My campaign has been busy mobilizing my Iowa supporters by mail, email, and telephone to explain just how important the August 13 Straw Poll is.

But there's much more to be done.

In a state like Iowa, the little things - like yard signs, bumper stickers, and billboards - can have an enormous impact.  Big things like radio, TV, and newspaper ads exposing my opponents' Big Government records can make the difference.

That's why your IMMEDIATE and generous support is so crucial.

So can I count on you for a contribution?  $5,000 is the limit for married couples.  It's $2,500 for an individual.  But whatever you can do - $500, $250, $100, $50, or $35 - will help tremendously and will be very much appreciated.

Time is running out before the Iowa Straw Poll, so it's vital you act IMMEDIATELY!  I know you won't let me down - especially considering just how important this is.  But please act TODAY!

For Liberty,

Ron Paul

P.S.  Mitt Romney's decision not to compete in the Iowa Straw Poll could cost him dearly, and it gives you and me a huge opening to prove I have the campaign organization and the message to WIN.

Please help me take advantage of this great opportunity with a generous contribution.

$5,000 is the limit for married couples.  It's $2,500 for an individual.

But whatever you can do - $500, $250, $100, $50, or $35 - will help tremendously and will be very much appreciated.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons