Things to consider

Look on the Bright Side Ron Paul Supporters

Ron Paul didn't win in Iowa Thursday night and he didn't even come in third or fourth place. But there is some good news that the long time Congressman and his supporters can take away from Iowa....

1. Ron Paul got 10% of the vote and was within striking distance of both John McCain and Fred Thompson, the later of whom is likely to drop out of the race after New Hampshire.

2. Ron Paul came in third place in Johnson County, which perhaps has the closest demographics to that of New Hampshire. It is home to the progressive college town of Iowa City, full of young voters who Paul's campaign is reliant on.

3. He beat Rudy Giuliani by a landslide and Giuliani is considered the frontrunner nationally. And like Rudy Giuliani, Ron Paul did not focus as aggressively on the state of Iowa.

4. Wolf Blitzer of CNN called Ron Paul's showing "impressive".

5. With McCain and Thompson tied for 3rd, Ron Paul technically came in 4th place.

6. There were some counties in Iowa where Ron Paul excelled.

7. Iowa is not an Internet state and the inquiries coming in for Ron Paul (and Internet traffic in general) is not very heavy from Iowa. The great news is that the most significant search inquiries for Ron Paul were coming in from Texas, California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee, Massachusetts and California.

He vowed Thursday night to continue his presidential campaign into New Hampshire and other states.

``This is not the end. This is the beginning,'' the Texas congressman told a boisterous gathering of about 150 people at a downtown Des Moines hotel.

The crowd interrupted Paul at times, chanting ``Live free or die'' and ``Ron Paul.''

``I am more encouraged than ever before,'' he said.

Original article posted here.