EDITORIAL - Super Tuesday brought a spirit of good luck to the establishment candidates yesterday evening, handing Republican John McCain a commanding 572 to 250 lead in delegates over his closest rival, Mitt Romney. The Democratic totals are much closer with a slight edge in favor of Hillary.

New York Senator Hillary Clinton has accumulated 739 delegates, while Illinois Senator Barack Obama remains in hot pursuit with 647.

The establishment candidates, or whom I most affectionately call, the “more of the same” candidates, scored well throughout the nation. Ron Paul, the only candidate currently in the race that supports a significant downsizing in Washington D.C., finished well below expectations, only picking up 10 official delegates – not including the 3 “unannounced” delegates Paul scored in a deal his supporters made with Mike Huckabee in West Virginia.

Paul finished second place in Montana with 25% of the caucus vote, but the state is winner-take-all, so Paul was awarded no delegates. Paul also finished third place in North Dakota and Alaska with 21% and 17% of the vote (respectively) and was awarded 10 total delegates, combined. The Texas Representative finished fourth or fifth place in the remaining Super Tuesday states and did not pick up any further delegates. Paul's official delegate count is 16.

Unfortunately, Paul has not yet finished first place in any state, prompting questions regarding his future as a Republican candidate for presidency. It has been suggested that Paul run as an independent, but he has flatly pushed aside that possibility throughout the debates as a plan not currently under consideration. Paul will soon need to consider his options and either drop out of the race or pursue plan B, which includes an independent run.

Ron Paul is a staunch supporter of a small government and Constitutional restrictions on government power. According to the National Taxpayer's Union, Paul is the only remaining candidate who's platform includes a significant reduction in government spending - to the tune of $150 billion dollars. The leading candidates all support increases in government spending, ranging from just a few billion to almost $300 billion. These are astounding numbers with an already bloated federal government.

Paul supports a withdrawal of our forces from Iraq, which has turned into a $600 billion nation-building enterprise that, Paul says, has no bearing on our national security. He also supports closing many of our military bases overseas, citing their costs as relatively unnecessary.

Whatever you choose to do, Dr. Paul, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you. Your presence in the race has once again given me an opportunity to campaign for, rather than against, a political candidate. You have opened up a lot of eyes to the corruption of the government and cost of our foreign policy, even if the voters continue to support the same old politicians. You have given the majority of those who reject the status-quo in America a voice and a reason to hope.

Keep up the good fight, Dr. Paul, and all liberty advocates of our great nation.