Ron Paul speaks to thousands of Austin supporters
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Four years ago, Caitlyn Bates didn't know who Ron Paul was, but on Thursday, she introduced him in front of thousands of students and other supporters at the University of Texas.
Bates is the Youth for Ron Paul Chapter President. She said Paul helps young adults form their own ideas.
"I think it is the fact that they are realizing that politics affects them," Bates said.
The Texas Congressman is the only remaining GOP candidate in the race other than Mitt Romney, and is significantly behind Romney in the delegate count. However, Paul has made it clear he is in the race for the long haul.
He runs on a promise to defend personal freedoms, from the choice to smoke marijuana to civil liberties.
"Why shouldn't young people be interested in their freedom?” Paul said to the crowd Thursday. "That is what this revolution is all about, is to revive the true spirit of liberty and reverse the trends of the last 100 years, change our foreign policy, change our monetary policy and change the spending habits and the deficits that have run us into this horrendous financial crisis."
While many consider him to be a fringe candidate, he continues to enjoy support among young voters.
"I think he is very attractive to independents, he polls very well with independents and whenever I talk to people on campus who are normally really apathetic about politics they really like him they are warm to the idea," Bates said.
For the veteran politician pushing 80 years old, he is hoping that young followers, now familiar with him, will take him to the White House.