OPINION

Ron Paul pushes back on 'fringe' label

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.

GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is selling his campaign as mainstream on the heels of his straw poll victory at a major conservative gathering this weekend.

Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas congressman, on Monday rejected the notion that he is nothing more than an interesting fringe candidate due to his controversial positions on drug legalization and civil rights legislation. He said that voters should focus on the core of his small-government, anti-war message.