Ron Paul Team Cheers Poll Showing Them on Obama's Heels

Supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, cheered the news that a new poll from Rasmussen Reports showed their candidate in a dead heat when matched against President Barack Obama. The poll had Obama taking 39 percent and Paul right behind him with 38 percent.

Our campaign is surging and this is further evidence of that, said John Tate, Pauls campaign manager. In poll after poll, we see that Americans are eager for true leadership on the important issues we face, and they want real change from a leader who stands for individual liberty and limited government, and who follows the Constitution.

This poll -- coupled with Pauls strong second-place showing in the Iowa Republican straw poll held earlier in the month in Ames -- shows that the congressman will be much more of a factor in the 2012 race than he was in2008. Still, Paul and his backers have work to do. A national poll being released later on Wednesday from Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm, will show the Texas congressman in seventh place for the Republican nomination.