Former Gov. Granholm predicts surge for Ron Paul

Speaking to a Current TV panel after the Republican presidential debate on Saturday, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) suggested that Texas Rep. Ron Paul may see a new influx of support.

The post-debate panel included Former Vice President Al Gore, Current TV Anchor Cenk Uygur, and The Young Turks contributors Michael Shure and Brian Unger.

"Ron Paul going into this debate was essentially tied with Mitt Romney, and Newt [Gingrich] of course was ascendant," Granhold said. "I think Ron Paul may end up seeing a surge as a result of this."

"But I think Romney, especially with the $10,000 bet, showed that he is completely out of touch."

Paul, a libertarian, has gained an enthusiastic following for his strong views on limited government, free market economics and non-interventionist foreign policy. In the 2008 Republican presidential primary his views clearly made him an outlier, but many of his economic positions have now been adopted by mainstream Republicans -- thanks in part to the tea party movement.

Paul is outperforming Romney in the key GOP primary state of Iowa but trailing behind Gingrich, according to a poll released last week.

Watch video, courtesy of Current TV, below: