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Jennifer Mayo of Hollywood, Calif. rallies for Rep. Ron Paul outside of American Shooters, an indoor gun range and retail store in Las Vegas Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.
By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Ron Paul campaigns in Southern Nevada
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KSNV coverage of Ron Paul campaigning around Southern Nevada, Fab. 3, 2012.
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- Caucus Day: How GOP candidates have set expectations for today’s results (2-4-2012)
- On eve of caucus, Mitt Romney makes case to voters across Nevada (2-3-2012)
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- Gingrich tells Las Vegas crowd he will ‘win the nomination’ (2-3-2012)
Sun's complete coverage
PAHRUMP - Sixty miles west of Las Vegas is a land to which few Republican presidential candidates dare go — unless you’re Ron Paul.
Nevada’s rural counties get ignored at national election time because of simple math: With 70 percent of the state’s population in Clark County and another 20 or so in Washoe County, the voters aren't here in the sort of numbers to make campaigning worthwhile.
But the residents, usually ignored by the outside world but for their legal brothels, are the purest and most passionate form of Paul supporters.
“Pahrump is about the last free place in America. You don’t even have to register your firearms in Nye County,” said David Wilkinson, who does refrigeration installation in town. “We’re real America. The small town, rural areas are the only real America that is left.”
Several hundred of those rural Nevadans, some sporting sidearms, crowded a roller rink to hear back-to-back speeches by presidential candidate Paul Friday afternoon.
It’s the only attention this town of 40,000, encircled by mountains near the California border, has had from any of the candidates competing in Saturday’s caucuses.
But Paul’s also the only one they care to hear.
“You will not see a yard sign for anybody else out here (other than Paul),” said Eva Price, a housewife who is a Democrat but came to see Paul and tell him that she planned to vote for him in the general election — even if that means writing in his name.
“I once wrote in Willie Nelson’s name,” she offered as evidence of her conviction, before shrugging: “But it didn’t count for much.”
Price can’t help Paul before the general election. But there are thousands of others who can — enough that Paul has a good chance of sweeping the rurals at caucus time.
“The people love him,” said Betsy Masek, a supporter.
Nevada is known for a libertarian, independent streak — but that is amplified in Pahrump, as is every ill wind that has crossed the Silver State in recent years.
Las Vegas’ 12.6 percent unemployment rate is usually considered the worst in the country. But it’s almost 5 points higher in Pahrump.
Las Vegas is also the foreclosure capital of America. But in Pahrump, foreclosure signs along the town’s main drag look like coming attractions.
The jobs message that all the Republican candidates have been trying to sell in Clark County — free up federal lands, get rid of regulations — have a lot more potential resonance here. But the people of Pahrump aren’t convinced that anyone other than Paul really means business about changing things on the ground.
“Anything that affects the federal government spending habits affects rural states like Nevada. We’ve got too much BLM control out here,” said Mike Ravlin, who explained that he moved to Pahrump after decades working for the city of Las Vegas because he “got sick of all the illegal Mexicans in Vegas taking over the town.”
Rep. Ron Paul speaks at a rally for Philippine-American veterans at the Leatherneck Club in Las Vegas Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.
“I’ve got a goat milk farm,” said Barb Wiest, a Pahrump resident and Ron Paul supporter, who ticked off “regulations” as one of the top issues affecting her vote choice. “He said, if we want to drink raw cow milk, we can drink raw cow milk!”
Wiest added that she changed her registration to Republican about a month ago simply to vote for Paul.
So did Bill Butkovich, a certified nursing assistant who said he voted for Obama last election.
“The right to bear arms — that should be a no-brainer,” Butkovich said. “But look at the people who came in with guns! He’s the only (Republican) candidate who literally supports it.”
Residents of Pahrump also believe Paul’s drastic economic proposals will positively affect both the jobs market and the housing market in Pahrump, even though Paul’s message is essentially to invest nothing, but make some changes at the federal level, and let the free market handle the rest.
“Dr. Paul is the only one with a plan, because he wants to eliminate Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD,” said Will Rogers, a Realtor in town who says his only business these days comes from REO foreclosures. “It would make the market stand on its own, and by standing on its own, it would be far superior.”
Bruce Calley, a retired construction worker, likes Paul’s proposals about the Fed and reintroducing the gold standard.
“Everyone is buying gold. Nobody wants a Federal Reserve note,” Calley said, producing a one-ounce gold piece that he carries with him at all times.
Even if other presidential candidates are spouting similar proposals on some of the economic issues for which the residents of Pahrump praise Paul, they either can’t or don’t want to hear it.
“There’s no difference between Romney and Gingrich,” said Mabel Charbonneau. “I think they’re part of the whole problem. They all have a political agenda.”
And even if the rest of the state is dismissing their small slice of the vote, the residents of rural Nevada believe they’re the shining example of what true people politics is in this election.
“You think this is a bunch of ignorant hillbillies. But they aren’t. They’re well-read,” said Rogers. “We’ve talked up Ron Paul for the past three years here, and it’s worked. Word of mouth does matter.”
Ron Paul has support has been brewing for a long while, we will see quite the surprise come tomorrow evening. Go Ron!
Ron Paul is the only candidate who will change the status quo. And even though most of the sweeping changes that America needs will require new congressional members who will honor the Constitution as well, he can--and, I believe, will--make immediate changes administratively by eliminating much of the unelected federal bureaucracy (Czars being one example) and not abuse his power and try to tear down America's sovereignty, as the past few Presidents have done. Our Congress has legalized corruption. We must change this. Come November, "We the People" must elect Constitutionally-aware members of Congress.
So this is what counts as "enthusiasm" in today's G-O-TEA? Wow. What else can I say? (Can't contain my laughter...)
Question for Ron Paul and/or Pauloonies [that they will never answer]?
How many pennies would one of todays dollar bills buy if we went back to the gold standard?
Bonus question [that won't get answered either]?
How much would Ron Pauls net worth increase if we went back to the gold standard?
"They all have a political agenda" Well DUH! Thats what politics is!!! See how reputations are made?
I support ya'll, I lived in Vegas a few years back and I get it. But a collection of boneheads in one area makes for bonehead soup when its more of an uninformed stew.
People, RP is NOT the "only" one who wants to return freedom to the "most free" county of the US, nor abolish the Fed Reserve, return to gold, ban Fannie & Freddie, etc.... the big issues, they all agree...remember, this is a PRIMARY, not the Gen election. They all are on the same team...well, minus Gingrich who is a nutjob as unstable as McCain was made out to be, but really is.
Anyway, ya'll need to look at the general picture, the big picture here: who can be elected, beat NObama, stand for Republican principals THE MOST. Sorry but wasting your vote for a 7th place, 6th place, 4th place out of 4 candidate is voting for NObama. Just like those who cant make up their minds. After @18 debates, platforms clearly marked on candidates' websites, interviews and biographies published, you can't see the mile-long differences??? Those people shouldn't vote. Ya'll take longer to order at McDonalds who's menu hasn't changed in 40 years. Voting Test before ya vote including a US History Test to make sure illegals can't vote. Seems to clear up two messes at once!
Come on my friends, neighbors, countrymen. Don't waste your vote. EACH counts. Kinda like last-place 7, 6, 5, 4....
@pmmart
Please stop asking rhetorical questions and educate us, please.
The desire of Paul and others to return to a gold standard apparently escapes you. It would mean that the Congress couldn't spend money that wasn't expressly backed by a gold equivalent (makes sense doesn't it?). By eliminating the gold standard the money that is printed only has an arbitrary value and there is no way to determine the worth of the money.
In closing, I'm not sure what Ron Paul's 'net worth' has to do with anything and based on your comment, I don't believe you do either.
I wanted to go see him, but I was deported to Henderson
Comment removed by moderator. Inappropriate
Miter
You are acting exactly as I have stated [repeatedly] the people who support Ron Paul act when confronted by a question that ,if answered intelligently , would end Mr Pauls 'run' in a heartbeat and the fact that he hasn't a prayer proves that this is true.
Asking a question with a question isn't an answer it's ducking the question.
As to Ron Pauls increase in net worth IF the gold standard was re-enacted.
Denying that Paul has a vested interest in raising the worth of gold isn't acting silly it's just plain dishonest.
It would be like me owning 500 57 chevys and campaigning with the idea that, if elected, I would put out an executive order making all 57 chevys worth a million dollars [for the good of the country of course].
If a Pauloonie wants to make a rational statement about how we would fuction with a return to the gold standard then let her fly... hourly wages?... worth of todays dollars?.. price of a new auto?home? weeks groceries?how many dollars would an ounce of gold buy?how many ounces of gold does the USA own???
If you cannot answer a simple question then you have zero respect from me and most Americans who have busted their azzes all of their lives to get one step out of the gutter and we don't intend to get pushed back there be a senile old fool and his band of underachievers!
Bet on it!
'We are the only real americans' wow! So if you are a resident of Las Vegas you are not a real American. And the Republicans accuse the Democrats of class warfare....... these people are totally disconnected from reality.
Ron Paul got the rock star treatment at Green Valley last week, and he deserves it. Let Freedom Ring.
@ dipstick, No, I think he feels safer when his supporters are armed. Some of those who showed up in New Hampshire where I am currently also carried sidearms openly and who knows how many concealed weapons were there.