Online Gambling Community: Don't Underestimate Ron Paul Popularity

Gambling911.com can reveal that 2008 US Presidential candidate Ron Paul has received more search queries than both Hillary Clinton and Rudolph Giuliani combined. So why are people so fascinated with Ron Paul these days?

And with Ron Paul listed with very long 200 to 1 odds of winning the 2008 US Presidential race, it certainly has peaked our interest that Paul appears to have a pretty solid following within the cyber world. The payout by the way is an impressive $2000 for every $100 bet. The folks working Ron Paul's campaign may want to start placing their bets here

"Ron Paul seems to come from the same Pat Buchanan "America First" philosophy way..."

For the online gambling industry, Ron Paul strongly advocates an individual's right to bet online and has in fact made this part of his platform. Outside of Libertarian Wayne Root Paul is the only candidate to do so. Online gambling industry experts point to the fact that its efforts helped kick Iowa Republican Senator and Internet gambling opponent, Jim Leach, out of office.

Geoff Whittington of Canada Free Press explains one of the reasons why Ron Paul is beginning to gain some serious ground in his race despite heavy media accounts focusing on Paul's suggestion that the United States had invited the September 11, 2001 attacks during a debate with Giuliani.

"Ron Paul is a 9 term Congressman, physician, and a veteran of the Vietnam war. He is currently seeking Republican nomination for the Presidency. His voting record is undeniably consistent with the limited government ideal. Each time the federal government has proposed spending bills to expand its responsibilities and power beyond The Constitution Ron Paul has voted ÒNoÓ. Aligned with him are groups who wish to increase state autonomy, lower taxes, increase federal accountability, reduce inflation and introduce legitimate fiscal responsibility. Ron Paul's support is growing and his message of limited government is breaking into mainstream news."

While Paul's assertions have received criticism from some from some pundits from the political right (particularly FOX news commentator Sean Hannityand GOP spokesman Michael Steeleas well, other reports have found that Ron Paul is factually correct with his assertion; as cited in the 9/11 Commission Report, Osama bin Laden's 1996 fatwa, entitled "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places," published in a British newspaper, reveals his anger with specific American policies as his reason for declaring war against the country.

In a press release following the debate, Paul's campaign chairman Kent Snyder said in response to Giuliani, "It is clear from his interruption that former Mayor Giuliani has not read the 9-11 Commission Report and has no clue on how to keep America safe" and on May 16, during an appearance on The Situation Room with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Paul asked for an apology from Giuliani and suggested that Giuliani should read the 9/11 Commission's Report.

Gambling911.com traffic data supports the notion the Paul is presently enjoying a much bigger following than many might choose to believe.

Following the publication Sunday afternoon of two Carrie Stroup authored articles: Hillary Clinton Remains Mum on Wal-Mart and Rudy Giuliani Closes in on Hillary Clinton more people searched for information on Ron Paul than both Hillary and Rudy combined.

"This is an interesting finding," reports Gambling911.com's own political betting analyst, Payton O'Brien. "It just goes to show that there are a lot of people interested in finding out more information on Ron Paul."

Both articles figured prominently on news wires specific to Clinton, Giuliani and Paul.

"Another interesting factoid is that Mitt Romney received very little search interest even following his 60 Minutes segment from last weekend."

The Gambling911.com website, which is well ranked in search traffic monitoring websites such as Alexa, often plays an important indicator of popular stories. Gambling911.com's Sports911 arm was among the first media outlets to pick up the Duke Lacrosse rape allegations story with massive traffic realized early on.

"David Beckham was the big thing three years ago when we covered reports of his alleged extra-marital affairs," O'Brien cited as yet another example. "And while Ron Paul searches were not exactly earth shattering, they did stand out like a soar thumb."

For online gambling websites offering odds on the 2008 Presidential elections already - like Sportsbook.com having 200 to 1 odds might be a bit of a dangerous stretch.

"It was only this week that Sportsbook.com added odds for Ron Paul. He was apparently not taken seriously even though they had odds on Bill O'Reilly and Bill Clinton among others who are obviously not going to be running."

Ron Paul Knows How to Use the Web

Unlike anti-online gambling opponent, Republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, who is being blasted in dozens of web blogs for what many believe to be hypocritical stands (a la "it's a bad thing to gamble online unless it is horse racing, which just happens to have powerful lobbyist in its corner"), Ron Paul understands the power of the Internet....so it seems.

"So many Paul stories are getting pushed up on Digg that Diggers think there's a conspiracy or rigging behind them all," writes David Weigel of Reason.com.

Three months ago, Reason's Weigel pointed out that only weeks after people (like me) complained that Paul was being kept off the mighty Pajamas Media 2008 straw poll, he's on it and winning it, with a six point lead over runner-up Rudy Giuliani.

"So maybe there's not a web conspiracy to promote Paul. Maybe (1) the other Republican candidates are gobsmackingly lame and (2)lots of libertarians use this fancy "internet" contraption."

An article appearing in the Bayou Buzz asks if Ron Paul is the next Pat Buchanan?

"Ron Paul seems to come from the same Pat Buchanan "America First" philosophy way or "American military intervention into foreign affairs is a waste of American resources and none of our business" brand of politics.

"The volatility all brings to the campaign trail and to the debates which to date, have been a referendum on the Bush Iraq policy, is causing some Republicans to try to silence Paul.

"Paul has a different way of viewing the world than the mainstream Republicans yet he claims to be the most Republican candidate of them all--citing support of low taxes and less government."

Paul also fits a certain role whereby many Republicans who are currently disheartened by their party (and there are plenty of them) believe they can now support a Republican once again. And because Paul is so anti-Bush (at least it seems that way), he might win over some Democratic support as well.

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Hillary Clinton Remains Mum on Wal-Mart
Rudy Giuliani Closes in on Hillary Clinton
Newt Gingrich: Will he Announce Presidential Run Today?
Mitt Romney 60 Minutes Interview: Hoping to Kick Start Campaign
Hillary Clinton in Vegas But Now Given Longer Odds
Barack Obama's odds slashed
Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul Wants Internet Gambling Legalized

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Christopher Costigan, Carrie Stroup, Payton O'Brien, Gambling911.com

Originally published May 22, 2007 12:23 am ET