A "grass roots" campaign for presidential candidate Ron Paul

Polson barber Ron Davis and Ace Hardware employee Shawn Parker campaigned on the streets of Ronan for presidential candidate Ron Paul. (Alyssa Kelly photo)

RONAN - "Hope for America. Be a part of it," was the message Ace Hardware employee Shawn Parker and Polson barber Ron Davis wanted to spread this week. The two held signs on the streets of Ronan to campaign for presidential candidate Ron Paul.

"There are several issues that he supports and a lot of them are really sound financial type issues, which a lot of the other politicians won't even touch. They won't talk about it," says Parker.

A local campaign for the Republican candidate began in Polson. Following its success, they are hoping to extend the support south, beginning with the town of Ronan. According to the two volunteers, Ron Paul has what they describe as "grassroots" campaign, which means that unlike a lot of other candidates, major corporations do not sponsor his campaign.

"It's all volunteer," says Parker. "4.2 million dollars was raised in one day for his campaign. The donations made were by all private citizens on the Internet for no more than 160 dollars (per donator). There were no corporate donations."

Presidential candidate Ron Paul has been a flight surgeon as well as physician. According to his campaign pamphlet: "He was a popular physician who treated all in need whether they could pay or not."

Davis and Parker hope to see the candidate become the 2008 president of the United States. "He's not a politician that will say whatever he needs to say at the time that it's convenient," says Davis. "He very consistent and always has been."

For more information on presidential candidate Ron Paul you can visit the site www.ronpaul2008.com.