ABC NEWS ARTICLE (Congressional Race and Peden).... how many lies can you find?

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Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tex., started an Internet 'revolution', using his firebrand libertarian bent to rile support for his Republican bid for president. But now Paul faces an even bigger challenge -- keeping his day job back home.

Paul's Presidential Run Leads to Trouble Back Home
White House Contender Raised Millions, Sparked Debate, Now Fights for Day Job

By Z. BYRON WOLF
Feb. 22, 2008—

In the House, they are but one lone vote, one voice in a fractured chorus of 435. In Congress, they are members on the world's second greatest deliberative body. But if they're not in the majority, they don't often get to debate much at all.

On the campaign trail for president, however, they can raise their profile from local pol to national voice. They can raise millions, draw crowds, rally the base, needle the front-runners, and maybe, just maybe, start a movement or at least force a dialogue.

But beware members of Congress: Stepping onto the national stage can have serious consequences on the soapbox back home.

Will Fall of Paul Mean Fall for Paul?

On March 4, the eyes of the nation will turn to two of the largest states holding presidential primaries this season: Texas and Ohio.

It is in those states and on that date that the long, hard struggle between Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., might finally be settled.

But it is also in Ohio and Texas where two presidential contenders are not fighting for the White House but for their political lives.

Rep. Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who distinguished himself as the only Republican presidential candidate opposing the Iraq War, gained a devoted following, harnessing the power of the Internet to raise more cash than more mainstream rivals, including current front-runner Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

But that same anti-war, libertarian bent that gave Paul national recognition could come back to bite him at home.

Paul, who ran for the White House as a libertarian in 1988 but gained more of a following this year as a Republican, has not suspended his presidential campaign, but he has significantly scaled back his national operation to focus on the race at home.

"I do think the presidential race has exposed some of his values and principles that are not in line with his district, and that exposure has done him harm at home," Republican primary challenger Chris Peden said of Paul.

Challenger: 'Republican of Convenience'

Peden, a CPA and city councilman in Friendswood, Texas, said Paul's national campaign has awakened voters in the 14th District to exactly how much of a firebrand Paul is.

"He's a lifelong libertarian," Peden said in a telephone interview. "He is only a Republican of convenience, not a Republican of conviction. He's a libertarian who runs as a Republican because a libertarian can't get elected in this district."

Despite calls from his supporters, Paul insists he will not run for president as an independent. But he has pledged to continue his Republican presidential bid, knowing full well that the odds -- and delegate math -- are now firmly against him.

Peden is attacking Paul for missing votes in the House while he campaigned for president, not spending enough time in the 14th district, and most important, for choosing ideological high ground over doing the job of a congressman, which is enacting legislation.

"I don't believe that one person can get elected and go to Washington, D.C., and radically change the Congress, but what I can do is begin to bring conservative ideas and incrementally get us back to some of these core principles that the Republican Party was so successful utilizing," Peden said.

Lauding Paul

All this does not mean that Peden -- who, while he said he is not a wealthy man, has put $150,000 of his own money into the race -- does not respect Paul.

A year ago, Peden wrote a laudatory letter about Paul and his decision to run for president -- a letter Paul reads at campaign events.

"I do believe he is a man of principle," Peden said. "I just don't agree with all of his principles. … The ones that oppose the war on terror are naïve and dangerous and don't make us better and stronger as a country."

In a fundraising letter to supporters, Paul implied that the more traditional Republicans want Peden to win.

"The D.C. neocons think their old dream is about to come true," he wrote. "They think they can defeat me in the Republican congressional primary in Texas March 4. And you know what? They may be right."