Libertarian "Nut-roots"

Via Radley Balko and Andrew Sullivan; the Libertarian wing of the Republican Party may have their own Howard Dean. From Sully:

If the latest report pans out, Ron Paul has leaped out of the asterisk box in the GOP campaign. His largely online funding, if verified, would put him on a par with McCain. Money quote:

Observers close to the campaign are revealing – with some astonishment – that donations to the campaign in recent weeks have pushed the total up to perhaps $4 or $5 million. "That's a huge number at this stage," says one observer. "That starts to put him in a position where he can compete – state by state, anyway – with the major candidates."

Not unlike the progressives that supported Dean in 2004 the Libertarians are fed up with their party and it's policies and are looking for an alternative. Of course it will be up to the DC pundits and corporate media to destroy Dr Paul just like they destroyed Dr Dean's chances in 2004.