This week's blog research began with a website called Australians4RonPaul.com It caught my attention because a couple of people commenting on my last piece were big fans of his. It turns out they weren't the only ones. A good Googling of his name and the word "Australia" reveals a rather strong support base here, drawn from libertarian principles and throwing up battle cries like "Ron Paul, Australia's only hope for the future!"

If further proof were needed that Australians really are getting into this US election, my Google search also returned a web discussion entitled 'Bob Katter, Australia's Ron Paul?' (Which is mostly abusive nonsense but funny abusive nonsense), as well as an article from The Australian's Adam Creighton which points out that Dr Paul manages to maintain popularity with both the right wing Tea Party and the left wing Occupy movement and quotes the founder of The Liberal Democratic Party of Australia saying the Texas congressman may be "on the cusp of more widespread recognition here."

And that seems to be the problem with Ron Paul, support and recognition aren't in short supply, they're just gathered in the wrong place, perhaps spread too thin.

He's remained relevant since 1988 and gathered support from both ends of the political spectrum as well as headlines from all sides of the world. Seemingly backed by those on left and right, Americans, Australians, a political party outside his own borders, shouty people on the Internet and the occupy people outside Channel Seven's offices at Martin Place, yet his polling figures still show he's unlikely to get the Republican nomination and couldn't beat Obama in a general election.

His support is as wide as an ocean - several in fact, but sadly for him, only as deep as a puddle.

Most of those listed above don't get to vote in a US election. But before this campaign is won, someone is bound to do one of those polls asking how the rest of the world would vote if they got the chance. It's my firm prediction that when they do this, Paul's support will shoot up from the measly thirteen points it scores now, to something massively more impressive. And Australians will likely be behind a big chunk of that support.

Not all of them of course. His libertarian ideas might resonate with many here. His desire to wreck the military alliance between Australia and the US might not. And sadly - short of going outside and standing next to the Occupy people with pen, paper and megaphone and conducting my own survey - I can't prove it. Perhaps a major Australian polling company will do so instead?

Australians4RonPaul ... it might not be as silly as it sounds.