I avoid politics like the plague, but I am long overdue to bring up the question of Ron Paul. For months now, Dr. Paul has been at the helm of one of the most prodigious Social Media machines I have ever seen. He has raised somewhere on the order of $19 Million and every scrap of positive media coverage he has ever received has found its way onto the front page of everything from the largest to the most obscure Social Media sources. As far as the web is concerned, he is already the President.

Yet at the Iowa caucus, he only managed to get 10%.

Web Fame

With the sheer magnitude of Internet support that Mr. Paul has mustered, why not a stronger showing when it really mattered? Before the commenters flock in, I am not interested in whether Mr. Paul will win or lose, I’ll leave that to the nation to decide. What I am interested in is whether it is the web or Ron’s strategy that is under performing.

As I see it, politics is one of those industries where Internet support simply does not convert. The web is great at driving product success, and even passable at creating cults of personality (MySpace fame) but when it comes to an artifact as entrenched as politics — I don’t believe that the web strikes the right chords. The majority of real world voters are simply not interested in how many times that you end up on the front page of Digg.

Web 2.0 Roundup

If nothing else, Ron Paul’s campaign will be a case study in just what the Internet is able to do on its own. While I can’t defend the ire some of Ron’s supporters have cast upon anyone who criticizes their candidate, I have to respect their skill at using the media to promote their cause.

What will be the final outcome? There is no way to tell, but it will certainly be an interesting ride.

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