Thousands of "Phantoms" Appear at Ron Paul Mars Rally

So much for that little theory that Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul's consist of just two people and a bunch of Internet bots.  Quite the contrary.  Gambling911.com's Kira Wissman was expecting a room with maybe 100 people at a Mars, Pennsylvania rally for Dr. Paul.  She ended up fighting her way through some 2000 plus people.  That number, Wissman admits, may have been a conservative figure.

Likewise, all the local Pittsburgh area media were in town to cover the big rally.  Gambling911.com and Kira received carte blanche treatment. 

"They (Ron Paul's campaign people) were all asking where Jennifer was," Kira told us Friday evening. 

The "Jennifer" in question was none other than Gambling911.com special contributor Jennifer Reynolds, whose coverage of the Ron Paul campaign for the G911 website has gained quite a following in recent weeks.

Dr. Paul spoke for a good hour and a half.

"Much of the discussion was on Americans deserving to have personal freedom.  He mentioned how hard it is to start your own business in the US.  He also discussed getting rid of the IRS."

Kira, who also works as a tax advisor when she is not writing for the Gambling911.com website, is all for getting rid of the IRS. 

"After my day at work today I am all for getting rid of the IRS," Kira quipped. 

But in actuality, Dr. Paul only wants to get rid of the individual income tax.

"People came from all over to see Dr. Paul," Kira told us.  "There were people who came all the way from Ohio (the next state over)." 

Paul is from the Pittsburgh area originally and is in town for a family reunion. 

Gambling911.com was one of only two media organizations let in through the back door of the hotel to meet with Dr. Paul.

Kira spoke to the 2008 Presidential candidate for a good 10 minutes.  Dr. Paul is against the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act).  He told Gambling911.com that most people in Congress shy away from dealing with Internet issues since the Web is wrongly associated with porn and....yep....gambling. 

As a side note, The Today Show is hoping to have a Ron Paul piece ready for broadcast in the next two weeks. 

Watch for Kira's piece coming Monday morning.

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com

Originally published August 3, 2007 11:07 pm ET