Ron Paul Mania at UCLA: Stadium Reaches Capacity, Students Climb Trees to Get a Glimpse

By Simone Wilson Thu., Apr. 5 2012 at 3:30 PM

Peter Steeves/Examiner

"First in Line for Ron Paul at UCLA waiting 9 hours."

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has the libertarian college kids going ga-ga for his firm anti-big government stance.

Whereas the clean, hopeful, Shepard-Fairey vetted Obama campaign was all the rage with Gen Y in 2008, Paul's more skeptical (even paranoid) approach is winning over young voters for 2013. Bringing Occupy Wall Street and Andrew Breitbart heads together, against all odds!

As evidenced by the crowd at UCLA's Straus Stadium last night:

Paul's campaign bloggers (at least we hope they're getting paid) estimate today that the crowd reached 10,000, although max cap at Straus Stadium is more around 6,000.

It was probably somewhere in the middle, judging by this amazing photo that @CrusaderMaximus Tweeted from the scene. Students apparently flocked to the stadium's outskirts, monkeying up into campus trees for a glimpse of Sir Paul (yes, we're going for the Beatlemania imagery, as did the Washington Times):

@CrusaderMaximus via Twitter

"lol overflow Ron Paul crowd climbs trees to get a look at UCLA last night"

If attendance surpassed 6,200 -- the number of bodies at Paul's personal-record-setting Chico State event earlier this week -- then UCLA is indeed the new record-holder.

GenerationSnooki.com

Democrat-Media-Complex conspiracy theorists questioned why the Los Angeles Times had no day-before coverage on Ron Paul's visit to UCLA.

On the other side, skeptics of the more mainstream Republican candidates have created a pretty hilarious graphic (see left) comparing the turnout at Strauss Stadium to a speech that frontrunner Mitt Romney gave at Ford Field in Michigan, his home state, last month.

And another Paul supporter at the Examiner notes that...

"... as Paul set a new attendance record (estimates have ranged form seven to ten thousand), the only mention of Paul on the Fox news site is 'Paul Increasingly Absent From Campaign.'"

Like we said -- if you hate everybody, you'll love Ron Paul. Wonder if he'll see the same level of support from UC Berkeley students tonight? They are pretty good at tree-sitting.

[@simone_electra / swilson@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

Ron Paul, UCLA

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Roger Ervine

I don't know why all the Ron Paul guys are so down on Romney here. I am sure he could have several hundred in attendance especially if they were well paid....

Legalize Everything

Ron Paul 2012

Danielle Russell

Hello laweekly! Plainly put, Ron Paul is by far the most consistent voter in line with the Constitution. The Armed forces collectively give him the most of their money per candidate. That should speak volumes. The mass media actively mocks, skews and outright censors Ron Paul. That should tell you who to vote for. Captain SweaterVest, Mitt and Newt are a 3 ring circus. The Republican party had 4 years to groom a candidate and that is what we get?

I know Mitt is a good economist, but frankly at this point to reverse the damage done by Obama, we NEED Ron Paul. Mitt would be a hell of a VP, being able to affect change that way while Ron fixes the rest of us.

Jennifersmith

I at this UCLA Ron Paul event in the front row, luckily enough. The video shows empty seats in the beginning, but by the end of his speech they were all filled and the people being turned away were listening from outside the stadium--and apparently from up in the trees! What a great night. Ron Paul is a true American, a true constitutionalist. I am appalled at the LA Times lack of coverage of this momentous night, his inspirational speech, and this unique, honest visionary. If we do not elect Ron Paul, by 2030, who else is going to stop the downward spiral that is happening, taking our once strong Country in to debt and great depression. Thanks Ron Paul for running and I hope that you win.

Reader11722

Federal Reserve, yet another violation of our rights. The gov’t constantly violates our rights. They violate the 1st Amendment by caging protesters and banning books like "America Deceived II".They violate the 4th and 5th Amendment by allowing TSA to grope you.They violate the entire Constitution by starting undeclared wars.Impeach Obama, support Ron Paul.Last link of "America Deceived II" before it is completely banned:http://www.amazon.com/America-...

John Ciacci, Esq.

Author of this article is a moron!"At full capacity, the LATC can accommodate 10,000 spectators."http://www.uclabruins.com/genr...

Ryan

Ron Paul 2012!!!

Fire Is Born

Thanks Goodness, pictures and videos say it all. Many silly words about so serious a matter.

Jackie Kayne

"Like we said -- if you hate everybody, you'll love Ron Paul."

Way to show vast amounts of judgement and ignorance in less than 12 words.

Remember, judging others says nothing about them, it only speaks about you.

Peace, only one way to get it in 2012. President Paul!

P.S. I don't hate everybody. I only hate ideas, laws, and liars, who seek to destroy my freedom, murder my nations troops in endless occupations, murder countless innocent men, women and children across the world, and try to tell me I'm safer for it.

The_bad_voodoo

I was volunteering at this event, registering BlueRepublicans to vote in CA this June. I was so surprised at just how many passers-by STILL didn't know who Dr. Ron Paul even is. I'm glad that journalists can't continue to Black Out this snow-balling political liberty force revolution.

Do Something

The Vandals up-ended Rome and it was good. Think about it.

sizmike

I didn't know that "kids" went to college... I thought adults went to UCLA, but this article implies otherwise. Silly me. They must be "kids" ... after all they are going to see that ever-so-childish Dr. Ron Paul and listen to his kiddie ideas. Who needs kids anyways, they are dumb. Only old neo-cons should be allowed to vote... who give's a F#$% about democracy and the next generation ?

Jackie Kayne

Ah, but don't you know, all Ron Paul terrorists are stupid, pot smoking idiots who hate everyone. Right MSM?

fyi4u2day

Yay Ron Paul! Blow up your TV America it is worse than junk food! Constitutional civics would be offered in public schools if we really believed in our once free society...