I have to hand it to our senior senator.

Monday, he was confident enough to assert that he is the only Republican who could beat Hillary Clinton in the General Election next November. (read article)

McCain cited the latest Rasmussen poll that, at this moment in time, places him two points ahead of the junior senator from New York.

Reminder: It’s November, 2007 – exactly one year away from the election. As I like to say in the fast moving world of politics, a lot can change in 12 months.

McCain also asserted that he was a “proud conservative Republican” and that Mrs. Rodham-Clinton was a liberal democrat. This from a senator who has moved away from the conservative base over the last decade on the issue of free speech, sanctity of life, and federal marriage protection.

Something tells me that a lot more will change in the next 12 months.

     We first covered the Ron Paul story back on August 31. It was about happenings in Phoenix so I did not pay much attention. Tedski covered the Tucson angle on November 1. We had a more controversial story on November 6 but I still did not personally see the newsworthiness. Then I went to the Pima County Cigar Night and met several local Ron Paul supporters. I was happy to find out that they are essentially main-stream, less-government Republicans. Certainly some of them hold some unique views but no more strange than some of the open-borders, legal-abortion, tax-raising elected Republicans already in office.

     I had seen a few Ron Paul supporters holding up signs by the University of Arizona so I knew they were out there. Then I came across the Ron Paul Tucson Meetup page. (There is even a Ron Paul Tucson You Tube page.) The next closest page I could find was the Mitt Romney Tucson Meetup page with 5 members and 1 event compared to Paul with 227 members and 72 events. Clearly Arizona is one of the prime locations for the Ron Paul r3VOLution. Further research revealed that Ron Paul is doing equally well in other Arizona locations. Here is just a quick sample:

Ron Paul Phoenix Meetup page – 485 members
Ron Paul East Valley Meetup page – 185 members
Ron Paul Scottsdale Meetup page – 110 members
Ron Paul ASU Meetup page – 58 members
Ron Paul Chandler Meetup page – 42 members

(We apologize if we left out any locations. A great way to find a group in your area is to search Google for Candidate Name City, example Ron Paul Tucson.)

     Say what you want about his candidacy (and I know you have lots to say) this is an excellent spontaneous network that other campaigns would love to have. The question becomes what does the party do with this infusion of activists. A smart approach would be to welcome all who support less government into the party. We have been lectured about the big tent for years when it came to liberal Republicans. How about applying that rule to all, including those who want to dramatically reduce the size of government?

     Before I get flamed or the comments start rolling in please realize that this blog is not officially endorsing Ron Paul for President. We are just noting a political phenomenon in the state that handled correctly may be the biggest gift to the Republican Party in years.

     Newt Gingrich has said that the electorate wants a change candidate. With all the other major candidates from both parties the question about the size of government comes down to how quickly government will grow. The best we could hope for under Giuliani or Romney is that government not grow too quickly and certainly less than under Clinton or Obama. Ron Paul is the only candidate actually talking about reducing the size of government. At one time that notion was actually fashionable within the Republican Party.

     See you on the streets!

NB – The Boston Globe now reports Ron Paul at #4 in New Hampshire, ahead of Huchabee and Thompson. I wonder if he will start getting as much press as Huckabee and Thompson.