Thomas MacMillan Photo
Manchester, N.H.—A second-place finish in Tuesday’s first-in-the-nation GOP primary was enough to lead supporters to erupt in an optimistic chant: “President Paul! President Paul!”
Other chants followed, including “End the Fed!” and “Ron Paul Revolution! Give us back our Constitution!”
Those happy cries came from a roomful of supporters of Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who celebrated a second-place win in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary.
“We’re nibbling at his heels,” libertarian Paul said of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who took first place with 40 percent of the vote. Paul captured 23 percent.
Romney’s closing rally was held at a fancy university auditorium, complete with snack bar, overflow-room video feed, six different custom lanyarded event passes, and police guarding the entrances. Paul’s event was at a relatively modest banquet hall with an open bar and a table of catered food, including chicken tenders.
Young people were well-represented in the crowd…
…as were bearded men.
A tangle of tripods, video and audio equipment, and reporters occupied several risers in the rear of the room.
Paul took the stage at 9 p.m., after two introductory speakers. He wore sensible black walking sneakers and at times clasped his hands gently in front of him.
The anti-government spending, anti-Fed, anti-foreign intervention standard-bearer also let loose with forceful rhetoric about the state of the country, which sparked fresh cheers and chanting from the crowd.
Merrick Sinclaire, 12, from over five hours away in Madrid, N.Y., hung on every word.
The Ron Paul revelry continued even after the candidate left the stage.
Previous primary coverage:
• “Ron Paul Revolution” Brings Debate To Streets
• Romney Takes On The Occupiers
• Orthodoxy Broken; A Door Opens
• Occupiers Crash The Primary