Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul wrapped up a campaign tour through the Pacific Northwest Saturday with a stop in Boise. His rally at CenturLink Arena in downtown marked his third visit to the state this week.
More than 2,000 supporters were on their feet as Ron Paul came into the arena. They chanted “President Paul. President Paul. President Paul” as the 76-year-old Texas Congressman began his 45 minute speech. Freshman U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador, state Reps. Lenore Hardy Barrett, a Republican from Challis and Bob Schaefer, a Republican from Nampa were in the crowd Saturday. Labrador has not endorsed a presidential candidate.
Paul said he’d cut a trillion dollars out of the federal budget in his first year of office. He’d also eliminate the Department of Education. “Just think if we were strict adherence to the constitution, would the federal government be involved in education? We don’t need the department of education. It’s unconstitutional!” That brought him thunderous applause.
The constitution was at the heart of Ron Paul’s message. Nearly everything he covered from eliminating the Federal Reserve to returning the country to a gold standard came back to a constitutional message.
Paul’s message hasn’t been enough to give him a primary or a caucus win. That hasn’t stopped him. Saturday he called his campaign tour of Washington and Idaho this week fantastic. “It’s much more than I had anticipated and the turnouts have been great and the enthusiasm is great,” he said. “But the big job we have is translating that into a few victories and that’s what we’re looking forward too.”
Super Tuesday is more than two weeks away so he’s been traveling between key states. His stop in Boise Saturday marked his third visit to the state this week. Earlier he went to Twin Falls and Moscow.
Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney also campaigned in Idaho this week ahead of Super Tuesday on March 6th. At each rally this week, the candidates have reminded people about Idaho’s upcoming GOP caucus.