The Texas congressman has moved into second place in Iowa and New Hampshire, according to two Bloomberg News polls released this week. In Iowa, he sits one point behind Herman Cain with 19 percent support, according to a poll released Tuesday. And a poll released Wednesday shows him at 17 percent in New Hampshire, far behind Mitt Romney (who has 40 percent support) but six points ahead of the third place finisher, Gingrich.

Paul's campaign has demonstrated organizational strength in his numerous straw poll victories. That ability to mobilize supporters could come into play on Jan. 3 in Iowa's caucuses.

Paul also broke into double digits in a national McClatchy/Marist poll released earlier this week. At 10 percent, he sat in fourth place in the GOP race behind Romney, Gingrich and Cain.