12/07/2007

Associated Press

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul want his campaign to take flight — literally.

A group of Paul backers plan to launch a 200-foot-long blimp bearing his name next week from Elizabeth City. The aerial billboard — with "Who is Ron Paul? Google Ron Paul" on one side and "Ron Paul Revolution" on the other — will float up the East Coast past major cities.

On the itinerary: A stop in Boston on the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, where Paul supporters will re-enact the event by dumping tea from the blimp into the Boston harbor.

After that, the blimp is scheduled to spend a couple of weeks over New Hampshire before the first-in-the-nation primary set for Jan. 8. After the vote, according to a schedule posted on a Web site for the project, the blimp will "depart for Disney World."

Liberty Political Advertising, including company president and Paul supporter Trevor Lyman, is organizing the project. The zeppelin isn't officially affiliated with the Texas congressman's campaign.

A Web site dedicated to the blimp says the group has raised more than $200,000 as of Friday evening — enough to keep the craft afloat for about two weeks.

Liberty said its structure as a for-profit company selling ads that clients can sponsor allows it to avoid limits on campaign contributions. The group is getting legal advice from Bradley Smith, the former director of the Federal Election Commission.

Paul, a former Libertarian who stands apart from the other GOP presidential contenders by opposing the Iraq war, has low poll numbers but soaring support among anti-government voters on the Internet.

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On the Net:

Ron Paul Blimp: http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/

Ron Paul: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/