According to a Rasmussen poll conducted in April, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) and President Barack Obama would be virtually tied if the 2012 presidential election were held today. The poll result is perhaps surprising, considering that during Ron Paul's 2008 presidential bid for the Republican nomination the major media cast him as a dark horse with no chance of winning. But that was before the financial meltdown in the fall of 2008. the Obama presidency, and the Tea Party movement of the past year.

"If the [2012 presidential] election were held today, would you vote for Republican Ron Paul or Democrat Barack Obama?" respondents were asked. Obama edged out Paul 42 percent to 41 percent - the 1 percent gap being well within the poll's margin of error.