All "lanes" of the GOP are represented with the Final 4... except libertarians

[Blue3]

It looks to me like all major "lanes"/factions of the GOP are still represented by the Final Four... except for libertarianism, which really only became a lane with Ron Paul in '08/'12.

Why is this?

Is it a failure of Rand Paul, or a failure of libertarianism to find support in the GOP? (Or both?)

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

because libertarianism has never, and will never, be supported by the GOP.

[Lief 🗽]

Libertarians only exist on the internet.

[Ljube]

Libertarians are represented by TRUMP.

[Vosem]

The libertarians backed Cruz. Why do you think he's doing so well in ME?

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Because Rand Paul ran a terrible campaign. He could have easily gotten into the final five with his father's base of support if he followed his campaign plan, only with less anti-semitism.

[Hydera]

Lots of fans of the Pauls who stuck with them even to now might not want to admit it, but Ron Paul had a lot of support from paleo-conservatives(AKA: Right-populists) as a protest vote since there wasnt any candidate to represent them in 2008/2012, and they fled Rand to go to Trump last year when Trump turned up his rhetoric on illegal immigration and muslims. Plus those Ron Paul college kids who thought of themselves as libertarians and showed up in his rallies in 2008 and 2012, most of them went to Marco Rubio who represents establishment conservatism and was more electable than Rand.

Libertarianism is not as popular as people think it is in the GOP.

[Zinneke]

Wasn't Cruz's Texas campaign for senator endorsed by Ron Paul?

[Blue3]

Does anyone seriously think of Cruz as "the libertarian candidate"? Or Trump? Or Rubio?

[Zinneke]

Does anyone seriously think of Cruz as "the libertarian candidate"? Or Trump? Or Rubio?

Just trying to understand here :
People think of Cruz as a libertarian because of his strong commitment to the constitution, effectively wanting to reduce the federal government's influence.
People think of Rubio as a libertarian because of his vehement commitment to free market economics, and his "minarchist" act. The guy has a hard on for Ayn Rand, but then so does Paul Ryan.
People think of Trump as a libertarian because he is anti-establishment.

So it's easy to see why libertarianism is still relevant in the GOP.

[Illiniwek]

Libertarians are represented by TRUMP.

You need to work on your stand-up. Try taking a class at Second City.

[Asian Nazi]

because libertarianism has never, and will never, be supported by the GOP.

And thank God for that.

[Averroës Nix]

There is no libertarian lane, of course. Anyway, Cruz is pandering to most of the self-professed libertarians who usually vote in Republican primaries.

[Comrade Funk]

But....but...Ron Paul Revolution.....ahahahahaha

[TJ in Oregon]

Fads are popular until they aren't. We seem to have gone through something of a paradigm shift this year in which, among other things, libertarian is no longer the hip thing to be.

[Orser67]

The libertarian "lane" isn't really a lane; it's just a bloc of voters that get you ~10%. Paul the younger realized this and tried to thread the needle between expanding his support and winning the libertarians, but unfortunately for him libertarians are among the most demanding, fundamentalist people in politics. At the same time, Paul's libertarian positions didn't attract much support at a time when the GOP seems to be embracing economic nationalism. So Paul ended up alienating everyone.

[Famous Mortimer]

Libertarians fall into two categories:

Regular conservatives who are pro-life and anti-gay marriage but really really hate taxes and think roads are Communism: They're voting for Cruz.

Socially liberal, fiscally conservative: They are probably voting for Kasich.

[Crumpets]

Any libertarians who aren't at home supporting Trump or Cruz switched to Sanders long ago.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

It looks to me like all major "lanes"/factions of the GOP are still represented by the Final Four... except for libertarianism, which really only became a lane with Ron Paul in '08/'12.

Why is this?

Is it a failure of Rand Paul, or a failure of libertarianism to find support in the GOP? (Or both?)

It's because "Libertarianism" is actually about racism, corporate dominance, and religious zealotry. And those are all quite well covered by the current candidates.

[Mister Mets]

I guess it turned out that liberatrians aren't that big a part of the party. Many who wanted for Ron Paul just wanted an alternative to the establishment and are now happy with Trump.

[Young Conservative]

Maine proves that Cruz appeals to libertarians and conservatives