Freakshow in Fort Worth: Ron Paul Crackpots Besiege Locals

The Ron Paul Traveling Sideshow surfaced in Fort Worth, full of bluster and bravado, and in desperate search for more pyrrhic victories.

Paul backers make their presence known

FORT WORTH -- Rep. Ron Paul wasn't there for most of the first day of the Republican straw poll Friday, but his presence was felt everywhere.

In the "Ron Paul" placards people carried throughout downtown.

In the T-shirt likeness of him that supporters wore around the Fort Worth Convention Center.

In the signs posted in front of the convention center, on vehicles parked there and on some downtown businesses such as Four Star Coffee Bar.

Paul, of Surfside, didn't make it into Fort Worth until his night rally downtown. Nonetheless, he was a candidate who was impossible to ignore.

"We're going to surround the area as more people come," said Paul supporter Christopher Laskoski of Fort Worth. "You will see more ground support for Ron Paul than any other candidate."

Once they surround the area, will they allow sane people to leave?

"While we may not win the actual straw poll vote, we want to outnumber any of the other candidates' support to show that he has a strong chance in the actual primary, where all of the people in attendance will be able to vote," volunteer Clayton Slade of Richardson said.

Brimming with optimism, I see.

The lunatics aren't satisfied with just promoting their own guy, they're also endearing themselves to the other candidates.

In the afternoon, about 30 supporters crashed a rally that Rep. Duncan Hunter, a presidential hopeful from California, held outside the Water Gardens. As Hunter spoke to 50 Republicans about supporting the troops, Paul supporters stood just feet away, holding up Ron Paul signs.

"We're not necessarily against Duncan Hunter. We're just here to support Ron Paul," said Robert Brushaber of Austin.