Paul at ISU in Ames Thursday for Final Caucus Lecture in Series

Ron Paul, a Texas Congressman, will visit Iowa State University's campus Thursday as the last in a series of candidate lectures before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.

His “Countdown to the Caucus” speech 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union will be Paul's first Iowa State University campus visit since November 2009, when he discussed his book, “End the Fed.” But it's his 10th visit to an Iowa college campus since March. He will also appear on the University of Northern Iowa campus on Friday.

Drew Ivers, Paul's Iowa campaign chairman, said Paul has been reaching out to not only for his campaign, but also to cultivate his message.

"He very much is reaching out to students, but more in a mode of impacting the future of the country. He is reaching out to students not just for the caucus campaign, but for the ideals of liberty,” he said.

"It’s bigger than any one campaign,” Ivers said.

The Des Moines Register's latest Iowa Poll placed Paul second to Newt Gingrich among likely caucus-goers.

Stephen Quist, president of the Iowa State University College Republicans, one of three groups hosting the visit, said Paul has broad appeal because of his Libertarian principles and Quist said people know where Paul stands on the issues.

“He's consistent as they come,” Quist said.

Paul's crossover appeal is a strength, but it's also his weakness, he said.

“It alienates the (Republican) base,” Quist said.

For instance, Marilyn Krocheski, 63, an Ames caucus precinct chairwoman who supports Rick Santorum, said she thinks Paul is “too liberal on some things.”

And she wonders what might happen if all of Paul's tax proposals were enacted.

Paul has said he would support eliminating income, death and capital gains taxes, as well as taxes on tips and Social Security benefits.

Quist said some of Paul's fiscal ideas appeal to voters, but the issues that seem to appeal most to young voters are Paul's belief that the United States should end the wars it's in and his stance on the legalization of drugs.

Paul and Barney Frank introduced a bill into Congress during the summer of 2011 that would have left marijuana regulation up to the states and eliminated the drug from the list of federally controlled substances, as reported in the Los Angeles Times.

What: Rep. Ron Paul's "Countdown to the Caucus" lecture hosted by ISU Lectures, GSB and the College Republicans

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 8

Where: Great Hall at the Memorial Union, Iowa State University, 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames

Tickets for early admission can be found here.

Cedar Falls Patch Local Editor Alison Gowans contributed to this report.