Revolution Revived! Ron Paul Survives Challenge

Ron Paul will live to fight another day.

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, used his firebrand libertarian bent to drum up support for his Republican bid for president. But then Paul faced an even bigger challenge — keeping his day job back home.

(ABC News Illustration)

The fiery Republican with a libertarian bent survived a strong challenge to his day job in Congress on Tuesday, besting a well-funded challenger.

Fall of Paul Nearly Meant Fall for Paul

Paul, the Texas congressman who distinguished himself as the only Republican presidential candidate opposing the Iraq war, gained a devoted following, harnessing the power of the Internet to raise more cash than more mainstream rivals.

But that same anti-war, libertarian bent that gave Paul national recognition nearly came back to bite him at home.

Paul, who ran for the White House as a libertarian in 1988 but gained more of a following this year as a Republican, did not suspend his presidential campaign, but was forced to scale back his national operation to focus on the race for his Congressional seat in Texas.

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"I do think the presidential race has exposed some of his values and principles that are not in line with his district, and that exposure has done him harm at home," Republican primary challenger Chris Peden said of Paul.

But in the end, Peden fell short, allowing Paul to resume his presidential campaign, although Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., wrapped up the nomination with a sweep of wins in Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Paul's native Texas.