right to drink raw milk any time you wanted to. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: while quirky and folksy he knows how to play politics. confronting newt gingrich to his face. >> freddie mac is bailed out by the taxpayers so in a way, newt, i think you probably got some of our taxpayers' money. >> reporter: and in ads. paul also delivered an anti-war message that resonates with many college students. >> this idea that we can be the policemen of the world and settle all these disputes, i mean, soon we'll have to quit because we're flat out broke. >> reporter: it appears to be paying off. in the latest nbc marist poll in iowa, paul is statistically tied for second with romney behind gingrich and has a better organization than both. >> from all reports i understand he has a strong ground game. that could surge him forward. >> reporter: the best indicator of paul's strength in iowa, he almost won the straw poll in august. experts say he or his campaign have touched more iowa voters than any of the other