So this fellow, a musician, set up his own Web site - the Internet is a huge part of the Ron Paul story - and the whole thing just took off.
The story behind the local rally, set for 1 p.m. at Independence Mall, is similar.
In August, the Paul campaign ran a national fund-raising competition among its local support groups. These groups, which form online, are called "meetups." First prize was a visit from the candidate.
When the Philadelphia meetup won, campaign officials figured that if they had to come, they might as well make the most of it.
The result is a Veterans Day weekend gathering near where the Constitution was written, perfect for a former Air Force flight surgeon who says that all of his political principles stem directly from the nation's founding document.
No one seems to know exactly what to make of a Republican candidate who doesn't show up in the national polls, raises a lot of money, and wants to bring the troops home from Iraq immediately.
No one except for Paul's core of dedicated supporters, many of whom are young and/or disaffected.
'He doesn't flip-flop'
"A lot of us were raised to think that all politicians are liars," said Brian Kelly, 19, a freshman at Drexel University who is Paul's top student organizer in the area. "Here's someone who's had the same positions for 30 years. You can trust him to stick to his beliefs."
Said Fred Immendorfer, 51, of Haddon Township: "His appeal ranges from borderline anarchists to World War II veterans who love this country. He doesn't flip-flop."
Born in Pittsburgh and educated at Gettysburg College, Paul is a 10-term congressman (and physician) who represents a district south of Houston.
