Ron Paul | Credit: Gage Skidmore - Flickr

With two weeks to go until the Iowa caucus, Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas leads in the Hawkeye State--and shows no signs of slowing down.

Now beating former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Iowa polls, on Tuesday, Paul’s team unveiled a schedule that shows their candidate will continue to focus on the state this week, making eight appearances across the eastern part of the state on Wednesday and Thursday.

“The Iowa team is pleased to welcome Ron Paul for another set of town hall meetings where he will give voters straightforward answers to questions concerning America’s pressing challenges,” said Drew Ivers, Paul’s Iowa chairman, in a statement on Tuesday.  “If past is prologue, voters will leave these gatherings knowing that Dr. Paul makes every effort to be engaging, informative, and uncommonly candid."

The Paul campaign also retooled a television ad--one that mimics movie previews--that focuses on their candidate’s record on taxes and spending, contrasting it with the rest of the field. The ad is being run in Iowa and New Hampshire, which will hold its primary on January 10.

“With the U.S. economy in shambles, Americans are demanding leaders that are knowledgeable about how the economy works and how to ensure that Washington creates the proper climate for sustainable growth and lasting prosperity,” Jesse Benton, Paul’s national campaign chairman said.  “This updated ad shows Ron Paul as the sole candidate with an economic plan to restore America, and at the same time singles him out for his unimpeachable integrity.”

The Paul campaign is also tightening up its ground game in Iowa. Mike Heath of Paul’s Iowa team has reached out, making more than 250 visits to churches in the Hawkeye State and there are signs that this outreach to religious and social conservatives is paying off. Religious and social conservatives remain an important part of the Iowa Republican caucus and helped Mike Huckabee win the state in 2008, led Gary Bauer and Alan Keyes to impressive showings in 2000 and propelled Pat Robertson over George H.W. Bush back in 1988.

This week Paul unveiled the support of Glen Bandel, the pastor of Nora Springs Christian Church in Floyd County.

“I am giving my support to Ron Paul as he seeks to be the next president of the United States,” said Bandel who stressed Paul’s record on social issues. “Dr. Paul has shown his support of life for all unborn and to all living to old age.  He is only for marriage of one man and one woman and would enforce the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

“Dr. Paul has the best foreign policy of any candidate seeking the office, namely one that ends interfering in the business of other countries, brings our soldiers home to protect our country, and pays our domestic debts using money we currently send around the world,” added  Bandel who made the endorsement as a private citizen.

“We appreciate Pastor Bandel’s endorsement, as it adds to the growing number of religious, civic, and political leaders whose endorsement brings us closer to a strong top-three caucus finish,” said Ivers on behalf of the Paul team.

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859