Others use TV to advertise. Ron Paul has a blimp. The flying billboard made its way to the Baltimore area Thursday, about a week after supporters began floating it to publicize Paul, the long-shot presidential candidate and Texas congressman, in the weeks leading to the Jan. 8 New Hampshire primary.
One side of the blimp reads, “Who is Ron Paul? Google Ron Paul.” On the other, it says, “Ron Paul Revolution.”
When the “revolution” hit Harford County, it attracted nearly 100 local supporters to Aldino Airport in Churchville. There, the blimp landed and onlookers got rides before cloudy skies forced it back to North Carolina instead of north to New Hampshire.
The blimp has brought together a crew of unknowns who had little interest in politics but now back Paul, the only Republican candidate who has consistently opposed the war in Iraq.
Trevor Lyman, a 37-year-old musician from Florida, came up with the blimp idea and has raised more than $10 million, and he?s never even voted, said Bryce Henderson, a spokesman for the blimp campaign.
“Four months ago, he was just sitting on his couch in Florida,” Henderson said of Lyman. “But when he heard of Ron Paul and his message, it inspired him. And that?s what we?re trying to do is try and get people to research him and look into him and his message.”
This marks the first time a blimp has carried a presidential candidate?s name, Henderson says, and since hitting the sky, the message has boosted Google searches for Paul by 40 percent.
Lyman, Henderson and about 20 others say they have raised more than $300,000 to rent the blimp, a pilot and mechanics for a month. Henderson gave up his job as a loan officer to work with the blimp campaign for $500 a week.
Those who donate $1 million to the blimp campaign get 10 weeks aboard, and $25 will get people 2.7 minutes, according to the blimp?s Web site, ronpaulblimp.com.
“It was flying all around Baltimore, and we got great feedback,” Henderson said. “So far, I?d have to say it?s a huge success.”
