GOP hopeful Paul wants to be judged on his ideas, not his age

DES MOINES – If he's elected, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul would be the oldest person elected president.

However, the 75-year-old Texas Republican, who May 10 opened his Iowa 2012 presidential exploratory campaign headquarters in Ankeny, doesn't think his age will be an issue for participants in either Iowa's first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses or the general election.

“I don't think in those terms (and) I'm not sure the people do,” Paul said when asked about challenging an incumbent president 25 years his junior. “I think they look more for the ideas, you know, the age is insignificant as compared to how young and exuberant the ideas are.”

Since Ronald Reagan was elected to a second term at 73, only two other 70-plus candidates - Republicans John McCain and Bob Dole – have received their party's nomination and neither was successful.

Paul was undaunted.

“Nobody knows how old I am because I fib about my age all the time,” he joked during a visit to the Capitol.

His large following among young voters and the strength and activity of his campaign-related Young Americans for Liberty on college campuses suggest to Paul that his age relative to other potential Republican candidates and President Barack Obama is not important.

“It's the content of his character and his ability to do it,” Rep. Kim Pearson, R-Pleasant Hill, said. “He's proven himself over and over again with his votes.

“How old was Reagan?” she added. “We don't discriminate based on age.”

His early start in Iowa – relative to other potential candidates – is a result of pressure from his grass roots supporters, according to Paul, who's made nine visits to Iowa this election cycle and three in the past month. In addition to opening a campaign headquarters, Paul has hired five Iowa staffers. They will be organizing the grass roots and developing a plan for the Aug. 13 Iowa GOP Straw Poll, which, he said, “means a whole lot.”

“I can't see how it would do any harm” to get a head start on the competition, Paul said. “Encouraging the momentum is a good thing.”

He senses support for his libertarian style of politics is growing as a result of current events “are moving I our direction because of the financial crisis, because of the bogging down in these endless wars and because of the spending that is endless.”

“We've been talking about those for a long time and now people are worrying a little bit,” Paul said. “If not, maybe they are worrying a whole lot and they have to do something.”

Paul didn't announce any endorsements from legislators, but said he had supported a number of Republicans and expects they will return the favor.

Pearson is impressed by Paul, but isn't ready to endorse anyone.

“There are several pro-liberty people I'm looking at and he's obviously one of them,” she said. “I like the fact that he always looks to see if we are upholding the Constitution. I think he's an amazing scholar and congressman and statesman.”