"Paul is '100% pure' and totally consistent," says pollster John Zogby. "There will be no sweetheart consulting contracts, no sexual harassment, no nothing" that could lead to a sudden exodus of support.

◼ Zogby: GOP voters ‘don’t like the dog food,’ make Ron Paul early-state contender - The Daily Caller (image source)

Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul has been climbing in Republican presidential primary polls in the crucial early states of Iowa and New Hampshire – a growth that campaign chairman Jesse Benton attributes to a relentless ground campaign.

“We are pairing Dr. Paul’s winning message of limited government, real spending and a balanced budget with a top notch campaign,” Benton told The Daily Caller. “Our mail, phone, TV and ground game are top notch and we will not let up.”

The results of two Bloomberg polls in those states showed Paul in second place — the same showing he made in an Iowa poll conducted by Iowa State University. Other polls, including a New Hampshire Journal poll released Friday, found Paul running in third place in New Hampshire.

Pollster John Zogby believes Paul’s strong performance in early primary states is another sign of ”a Republican Party at war within.” Zogby told TheDC, ”This is battle for the heart and soul soul of the party and it is a very high stakes game.”