Why is Ron Paul Seemingly so popular yet he is not a front-runner?

Why is presidential hopeful Ron Paul so seemingly popular on the internet and even with many people outside the interent with signs and all soppurting him,but i've been told he won't last in the election too long.Is it because most of his soppurters are under the age of 18?

Public Comments

1. he is most popular and discussed on the net. the demographics on the net is very different than everywhere else.
2. He's not doing so bad, he just broke into the double digits in Iowa today and is statistically tied with Giuliani, so the supporters are doing their job. He doesn't have too many scandals, even manufactured ones can be seen through easily, so the media doesn't do him justice. After thinking that one through, I now figure, I don't want to see him on the TV, the TV is full of scandals and gossip. As long as he does well in the first few primaries, things will look different. If he doesn't, I'm not sure what can be said.
3. He IS a front-runner, but he is being censored by big media. There are numerous, well-documented examples posted online that show how news agencies like MSNBC and CNN are intentionally reporting skewed numbers to the public to downplay his leading role.
4. He's popular with the young kids and the Internet crowd (not a huge group of actual voters). He's not a front runner, and never will be, because the people that actually will vote don't support him. I heard an article about the Iowa caucus and how the candidates are skipping going to the colleges, where most of Paul's supporters are. They also mentioned that most of these supporters won't be participating in the caucus. Paul's at 6.8% in Iowa.
5. hes popular because he is a republican but somehow he employs logic when making decisions
6. because he is only popular with the libs... and the republicans dont allow open elections in most states... only to people who are registered in thier own party.. so ron pau get public support, but not where it counts atleast for him!!!
7. Most of his supporters seem to be idealists who are naive enough about politics to think his ideas are the best thing since sliced bread. Only problem is that they aren't workable in this country, and he offers little in the way of explaining what he's going to replace all these agencies he intends to do away with, not to mention his very frightening naivete about foreign affairs. A lot of them mention the smarminess of politics in general, and think he's above all that. Hmm.... It's easy to have ideas that hover above reality. It's another thing altogether to make those ideas into something workable and realistic. He does neither. I saw Tim Russert interview him last week and it was painful to watch. He was so lacking in reason and logic that it was hard not to be embarrassed for him. He won't last in this race because he's running as a Republican, not an Independent. That was his first mistake. The Republicans would rather nominate a wart hog than Ron Paul, and that's just a fact. Most of his supporters blame the media for his lack of national support. It seem they think the media should be paying special attention to a candidate who has no real shot at the nomination. So rather than blame his message and his poor approval ratings, they try it the other way around and blame the media for trying to hold him down or some other such nonsense. Sort of gives one a general idea of the blinders his supporters wear, and that sort of narrow thinking is a hallmark of young adults. They still have a lot to learn about the realities of politics in this country. I've actually had Ron Paul fan spammers in here block me simply for expressing my opinion about him. That has been my experience with most of his supporters in this forum. Not exactly something that coincides with maturity and tolerance. He never really recovered from losing the general public's attention after the first Republican debate in which he came across as an American apologist. It just got worse from there. Now too many folks think he's a Coke short of a Happy meal for him to have any serious chance at election.
8. Thomas S and Plaztik got it right. Ron Paul is doing a great job and his popularity among the voters is increasing as time passes by. I hope that by New Year he'd become the most popular of all the Republican Candidates. Ron Paul's fans are sincere and honest. They are positive too and I'm praying that there positivity becomes a major reason for him winning the Republican nomination; which is an essential step on his way to the presidency, Amen!
9. Extremists such as Paul often attract a very vocal but nonetheless very small following. Last time this guy ran for President he recieved about half a million votes - a lot of people sure - but still less than 0.5% of the vote in that election.
10. It seems that he's not popular because we've never seen a candidate like him. The media isn't really on the pulse of what's happening, and a movement like this takes time to communicate; unfortunately, most attention spans don't last beyond a candidate's personality, and Ron Paul isn't a head turner until you hear what he has to say.
11. Because all of his supporters aren't going to vote for anyone,they won't go to the polls and make the effort,I hope I'm wrong but just like anyone with new idea's and direction there bark is much worse then there bit.The machine voters will vote as usual and the rest will complain there guy or gal didn't win.
12. Overall, he's not particularly popular - most polls have him between 5 and 10% of the Republican vote. Where he differs is that his supporters are much more vocal - while the frontrunners might be polling at 25 or 30%, their supporters would often be just as happy with another candidate. The Paul supporters approve of Paul and only Paul.
13. Say what you will about Ron Paul. The facts are yes he speaks of ideals which probably most of which wont happen while he is in term if he does get elected. At least he believes things can be changed and is trying to do it. That's a lot better than just accepting the current state of things like some people in this post has apparently decided to do. Also about the media and his supposedly young voters. Some of what has been said here is true about him not being as popular and so not as much media attention. Also about his young voters. This bullshit i hear about all his supporters being under 18 is bullshit. How many times have you heard a teenager say. "Ron Paul has got his shit together. If i was old enough i would vote for him" ? I'm 21 and in a college town the fact is a lot of college kids support him and also a good many older people also. By the way college kids can vote and do vote. How many colleges are in this country now :)
14. hes being censored by the media so it wont look like a conspiracy when he loses and they can act like he never existed
15. http://www.nolanchart.com/article615.html this articale shows he is leading the pack
16. Because there is no such thing as a front runner in the primary.