By Patrick O’Connor and Danny Yadron

Watch out for Ron Paul.

The Texas congressman has dominated most of the early Republican straw polls, thanks to an army of ardent, mostly younger supporters who flood conservative confabs around the country to show their support for the libertarian icon.

Mr. Paul, who has more money in the bank than all of his GOP rivals except for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, is now making a strong push to win the straw poll that matters most, the Iowa straw poll in Ames on Aug. 13.

It presents Mr. Paul, a libertarian who has called for the end of the Federal Reserve, a genuine opportunity to prove his following is stronger this year than it was four years ago. In 2008, he finished fifth in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.

At the very least, it’s a chance to hobble another Republican…