Mirroring a march and rally in Washington, D.C., supporters of Texas Congressman Ron Paul gathered Monday at the State Capitol. It was a small group with big hopes -- a handful of veterans like Army Spec. Joshua Theroux. "I got out six months ago and can't find a job,” Theroux explained, as he walked up the building's south steps.
Theroux said he has seen the concern Paul has shown for soldiers in his situation. Paul served as an Air Force flight surgeon and then in the U.S. Air National Guard in the 1960s. Theroux hoped securing the GOP nomination for the presidency would help prevent something similar in the future.
"We do all we can for our country and then we come back to nothing,” he added.
The group stood in the rotunda, displaying an American flag to point out the U.S. deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. Paul's supporters said his foreign policy stands out from the others and that he wants to stop policing the world.
"Bring our troops home,” Theroux said. “We're tired of fighting."
"Unlike other people who are running for president, Ron Paul has gotten more active-duty donations," said Army Spec. Nathan Plimpton
In fact, in the last fundraising quarter of 2011, his listed military donations were more than the other candidates combined.
The ceremony at the Capitol was also a reminder that Paul is the only veteran left in the GOP race. If he does not earn the nomination, it will be the first time in 68 years a veteran will not be competing in the general election.
Gallup polls in the last two elections showed military backgrounds did not make much difference. Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush all beat out veterans even though they never served overseas themselves. Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard, allowing him to avoid duty in Vietnam.