Ron Paul: Republican or Revolutionary?

Politics of an Insurgent

But even an insurgent candidate like Paul, if he wants to come off the fringe of the Republican backbench and make a viable run for his party's nomination, will need more than $5 million to hire a large enough national infrastructure and buy expensive media ad time.

So along with the online viral solicitations, Paul has learned to raise funds the old-fashioned way too.

In recent months he has attended fundraisers in Florida, outside Boston, New York and elsewhere.

At another $1,000 minimum fundraiser in August, Paul raised $104,000 at real estate developer Donald Huffines' house in Highland Park, Texas, outside Dallas.

Huffines, a self-described conservative Republican, said he supported George W. Bush in 2000 and "generally supports whoever the party nominates" in the general election.

But Huffines sees something special in Ron Paul.

"There is no passion with the other candidates, and there is zero excitement for the other candidates at the local level, where I am," said Huffines, who has been active at the precinct level in past years.

Contrast Huffines with the stereotypical Paul supporter -- young, perhaps bearded male, who seems likely to attend a rally on a college campus. But everyone is welcome in Ron Paul's tent.

Passionate Paul Supporters Defy Central Casting

One Ron Paul supporter, Liv, a 24 year-old bubbly blond vegetarian from Los Angeles who posts videos to her Myspace page and calls herself "Ron Paul Girl," has one of the more viewed Ron Paul videos on YouTube.

In it, she strips down to her underwear and a tank top which reads "Ron Paul 2008."