'We’re still winning a lot of delegates,' Paul said Paul 'movement' comes to Va.

SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Ron Paul lost his tenth and eleventh contests this year Tuesday night, but he dismissed those failures with only a passing reference here.

“They keep asking about winning particular states in this campaign, but guess what? We’re still winning a lot of delegates,” Paul said. “Winning the primaries is very, very important. But winning the general election will also be very, very important. It is our message that appeals to independents and Democrats and the Republican base.”


Actually the Texas congressman won no Arizona delegates, which is a winner-take-all state, and early returns suggested he will not nab any from Michigan, where he did not appear to lead in any congressional districts or reach the minimum 15 percent statewide threshold to get a delegate.

But a crowd of 1,750, crammed into a ballroom in this northern Virginia suburb, cheered Paul on anyway. About 500 were turned away after fire marshals declared the building over capacity.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul — who many expect to mount his own presidential bid in 2016 — was the star of the night. He delivered a three-minute introduction of his father, who he called “my hero.”

Despite the fact that he didn’t compete aggressively in Arizona or Michigan, Ron Paul complained about being dismissed as unelectable and referenced one recent poll that showed him defeating Obama in a head-to-head matchup.

“Every once in a while they include my name in the polling,” he said.

Virginia is one of 10 states with a contest next week on Super Tuesday. It could present a real opportunity for Paul to improve his performance as only he and Mitt Romney got the required signatures to appear on the ballot. Polls show Romney winning handily, but delegates are awarded proportionally by congressional district – which could allow Paul to collect a few.

“I guess the revolution has arrived in Virginia,” Paul said.

But the Texas lawmakers never directly asked for Virgina voters to turn out next week. Instead, he spoke broadly of a growing “movement.”

“Just think of how many people have joined this revolution,” he said. “When this revolution is successful, it will not be a Republican monopoly at all…It will be endorsed by all of America.”

Despite his primary losing streak, Paul continues to attract a loyal following. He had what the campaign called his largest events of the cycle at Michigan State University during a swing across the Wolverine State on Monday.

The Virginia rally was timed to allow Paul to appear at a Wednesday morning House Financial Services Committee hearing. He told the crowd that he’s excited to quiz Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

“I can assure you that we probably won’t get a straight answer,” he said, as supporters chanted “End the Fed.”

A group of veterans flanked Paul on stage during his speech, and Paul got some of his loudest cheers for saying he wants to bring home U.S. troops.

Paul’s attention now turns West. After his appearance on Capitol Hill, he’ll campaign in Washington state ahead of its Saturday caucuses. He’ll also target Alaska and Idaho ahead of Super Tuesday.

The Paul campaign has performed best in caucus states where small turnout allows his base of motivated supporters to have an impact. The campaign says that the popular vote totals in places like Minnesota, where he finished second, don’t reflect the delegate strength he’ll have going into the convention.