Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul, chairman of a major House subcommittee and a man with serious ideas and a significant base of support, deserves far more respect than he is getting from the media and pundit communities.



I predict that when the voting begins in the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary, Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump Donald John TrumpFive takeaways from Trump-Biden debate clash The Memo: Debate or debacle? Democrats rip Trump for not condemning white supremacists, Proud Boys at debate MORE and Sarah Palin will not be running. Neither will Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, though unlike those three he would be a serious presidential candidate if he decides to run, which I do not believe he will. The media darling of the month, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, will not be a factor either, because he will not run, and the pundits will move on to another flavor of the month long before then.



If he runs, I predict again that Ron Paul will be one of three Republican finalists, and if the other two are close, he could be a kingmaker. So why doesn't Ron Paul get more respect?



Paul has serious ideas that have become a significant factor in our national discussion. He has intensely loyal supporters who will come out to vote. He has enormous potential to raise money. The most recent money bomb for Paul was a major success. He chairs a major subcommittee with potential to regularly raise his issues and influence the debate.



As presidential candidates I think Gingrich, Trump, Palin and Christie are nothing more than media hype and will not be players in 2012. Ron Paul will be a serious player, one way or the other. He deserves far more respect from the political chattering class.

