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Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, reacts after seeing several hundred people show up to see him Wednesday in Concord, N.H.

Jim Cole/AP

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, reacts after seeing several hundred people show up to see him Wednesday in Concord, N.H.

On a balmy August evening in Concord, N.H., the smells of summer float through the air: cooking meat, freshly cut grass and bug spray. A few hundred Ron Paul supporters have gathered under a white tent to hear their candidate speak at the opening of his state campaign headquarters.

They're excited about the Texas congressman's close second-place finish at the Republican presidential straw poll in Ames, Iowa. They're also a little frustrated that it hasn't been getting more attention.

"Statistically, he was pretty much tied with Michele Bachmann," says New Hampshire State Rep. Jenn Coffey. "The media isn't even talking about that. They're talking about the guy who came in third who just quit; they're talking about the guys who came in fifth and sixth."

The candidates were 152 votes apart to be exact, out of about 17,000 cast.

Coffey's passionate intensity is typical of the folks at this rally. These are not inquisitive voters trying to learn more about an unfamiliar candidate — these are true believers.

A Heavily Devoted Base

During the last presidential race, Paul had some of the most fervent supporters in the Republican field, but that didn't translate to electoral success. He failed to win a single primary or caucus. This year, the devotees are back.

"I actually cried listening to his last speech," says Leslie Lannin. She sits with her family in the shade of a Winnebago they call "The Happy Camper." She painted big slogans on the side: "Ron Paul Revolution," "Love Peace Liberty 2012," and "Dr. Paul Cured My Apathy."

Their vehicle looks more suited for a Grateful Dead concert than a Republican presidential campaign rally. Her husband, Terry, is an art teacher who describes himself as a "crunchy, granola" guy.

"Back in 1979, maybe, I was thinking about Jesse Jackson," he says, "so I've kind of come a long way."

The family bought 100 Ron Paul DVDs and handed them out to strangers at gas stations on the drive up from Massachusetts.

In short, Paul is not a typical Republican candidate, and his supporters are not typical Republican voters. He wants to shrink the military, end the Federal Reserve, overturn the Patriot Act and legalize marijuana. He has been making these arguments for decades.

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