I hope that some day an election will be decided by voters and not the money primaries or self-fulfilled prophecies of the media.

GS If you don't think they have a chance to win....then why did you have them on your show? Those comments at the end of each piece made you look like Martha Stewart putting on a dog show. Oh look; aren't the little fringe candidates cute, they actually think they have a chance...awwww.

Ever notice how many comments a typical story on this page receives? Usually only 1 or 2. The highest number I saw was 55 comments on Joe Biden's observation that Bush is "brain dead". Friday's story about Ron Paul's fundraising success has over 800 comments.
I thought the interview was fair. The questions aren't as important as the responses, and RP handled himself well. I can't wait to see him collect on that bet!

George I use to actually like your news reports thought you were a stand up guy that reported fairly. Your obviously just the same as the rest, a sock puppet that does what your told. Who are you to say who has a chance and who doesn't. ABC doesn't run the world do they? I am supporting Ron Paul no matter what clowns like you say about him. Hope for America!

@Ryan:

You can view the full interview here:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/07/longshot-candid.html#comment-75244124

Thank you ABC for giving some time to Ron Paul, mostly because you had to, but of course you have to put in the disclaimer that he can't win. We'll see about that.

@ cffountain

Totally agree with you, the interview this morning was as good as could be expected--with the exception of how they just had the voiceover establishing RP's 2.4 mil in the bank. If you saw that online (they had it up yesterday), GS actually sounded surprised by that. He was the one that said "that makes you ahead of John McCain," with some amount of respect.

I like the fact that RP is a longshot, and hope he remains a "longshot" until the National Convention when all the votes are counted. If he wasn't such an underdog, would we all be here???

ABC news did a great thing today by letting Dr. Paul present his argument for Liberty to the American people. I hope more and more folks realize that the 'mainstream' Republican and Democrat candidates are simply two sides of the same coin: both fighting for bigger and more intrusive government. Dr. Paul's message of Liberty, personal responsibility and limited, Constitutional government is unique in today's society. It is sorely needed at a time when the wishes of our Founding Fathers are absent in government and relegated to high school textbooks.

I too thank ABC for having Ron Paul on and he was terrific! The more people hear his principled views, the more support he'll gain, regardless of whether or not George S. thinks he can get elected.

I think I'll send more of my hard-earned and over-taxed money to the Ron Paul campaign now to help prove the nay-sayers wrong.

I too support Ron Paul no matter what!

Ok first of all, thank you for having Ron Paul. Next, I would like journalists to report the news not put their own opinions in it. Thanks. You're not the one being interviewed, they are. But besides that, thank you.

George, George, George,

When I read that Ron Paul would be interviewed by you and the broadcast would air today I said to my husband, "fantastic, George is a fair guy. I can't wait to see the interview. It should be great." Well, George, I'm disappointed with your self observation that he has no chance to win. Just stick to the interviewing and let the American people decide for themselves who they want to vote for.

WOW, I just saw Paul's interview with George.

First off, I am glad to see that Paul is getting some media air time on ABC, and with George of all people. Overall, I do think the interview went well, and it was great seeing Ron's reaction to hearing he had more in the bank then McCain.

However, the statement George made about "it’s not going to happen", really flabbergasted me, in at least a few ways. As a long time supporter of Paul, I can tell you his campaign and message is growing at a pace that even amazes me. That aside, how can a reporter have the nerve to shoot down a Presidential hopeful, especially of one doing as well as Ron is? What happens if you are wrong George and Paul becomes the next President? Idiocy and short sightedness is about the only thing I can attribute George's remarks to. When Ron is elected, how ever will George be able to continue his job as a White House reporter without that sound bite continually cropping up to haunt him? People are going to laugh! I am amazed George, and ABC for that matter, that you not only made the comment, but also did not edit out the comment.

No worries though, come the Primaries the major media news outlets are going to be backtracking as fast as they can. Come the Presidential Election, George may be unemployed. But thanks none-the-less George, for the interview and for solidifying Ron Paul’s support base with that comment.

You didn’t know comments such as those only make us stronger, want to contribute monies and time more?

Everyone-

Please forgive George Stephanopoulos for his smugness about Ron Paul's chances of winning the presidency. As we all know, smugness is only a display of false confidence to mask over one's true desperation.

The bottom line is the mainstream media really doesn't want someone like Ron Paul to be president. Fear and outrage are the best thing for news ratings. A Ron Paul presidency would bring too much logic and critical thought to the table, and that's just bad for ratings. Imagine a world where reasoned, intelligent decisions were made and carried out instead of knee-jerk emotional decisions that never solve anything, causing even more fear and outrage instead - who'd watch the news without crises left and right, and constant talk of what rights the government was going to curtail next to "solve" them?

What would people like Stephanopoulos do if people had better things to do than worry and watch the news? Like perhaps spending the money they once paid in taxes, or making plans for their retirement savings....

He's only desperately trying to protect his livelihood. So show him a little forgiveness, OK? ;-)

Hey George, I do not remember you being elected to represent all of voting America. I'm sick of you reporters spitting out what you think. Your job is to report the news without your views. It is about time you folks remeber to ask the same questions to a candidates without putting your 2 cents in the conversation. We want to hear about the canditates not your crystal ball opionin. You job is to be a neutral party. Ask the questions, American voters will make the decision.

I too would like to commend ABC for giving Ron Paul the opportunity to express his views to the American people.It can't but help our cause!!!
GO RON!
H J Bergami

Thanks to BAC for giving Ron Paul any air time to get his views out. I love that man and almost everything he stands for.

Really good interviews, but what's up with the personal opinion on chances? This is supposed to be professional journalism. I believe ABC owes these candidates an apology. Maybe a boycott is in order.

I suggest everyone use the comments made by George S to get more motivated in campaigning for Dr. Paul and/or Mike Gravel. Let's prove GS wrong.

Please don't allow the commentators on the discussion panel to run over the top of one another. It doesn't provide coherent information or dialogue. That would mean that Mr. Stephanopoulis would need to follow suit.

The fact that George would dismiss Ron Paul's chances really shows ignorance of the candidate, the presidential process, and the job of a reporter in general. The job of a reporter is not to tell the American people what to think nor is it to predict the future. It is only to better inform the American people. Is it any wonder why the American people have such a hard time trusting the mainstream media? The only person who has a right to an opinion is the politician being interviewed. When George runs for office then and only then will we care about what his opinions are.

On needs only to look at what GS has done his "pals" the Clintons after they brought him up from nothing to see where that remrk came from. The MSM whines about poor voter turnout then lets GS get away with a biased, self-centered, igotistical remark like this. What an idiot!
Ron Paul is the real deal, so GS's ignorant remark didn't phase him one bit.

Stephanopoulos has long lost credibility as a journalist as far as I'm concerned. It's not the job of a journalist to so rudely interject such personal points of view. I'm not even a Republican and I think Ron Paul should've been given the benefit of a more professional interview. George has always been a fake, and now he's also an unprofessional bully. Maybe he should run for office in the Republican party.