CHAPEL HILL - Some backers of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's race for the presidency like this scenario: Sen. John McCain, the GOP's presumptive nominee, "melts down" at this summer's Republican national convention and Paul steps in to head the ticket.

If that doesn't happen -- and even Paul says it's unlikely -- there's still ample reason to support him, said some among the more than 600 fans who came to a campaign event Friday on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus.

"If he doesn't get the nomination, his revolution will be in place to take the Republican party back where it ought to be -- to conservatism," Walid Nicola, 51, of Gibsonville said before the event at Carmichael Auditorium.

Paul, 72, a Texas physician, gets less national attention these days than when he raised his profile -- and millions in contributions -- as a GOP contender.

Nonetheless, Paul followers from the Triangle and beyond packed several sections of Carmichael, waving signs and cheering the candidate's message of smaller government, more personal liberty and sound monetary policy.

"The response has been miraculous -- the message is powerful!" Paul said during his 45-minute speech.

Ben Agner, 20, of Cherryville said he drove for three hours to hear Paul in person after spending several years getting acquainted with his message.

"He's the only one who will vote for not spending money," Agner said.

Paul offered his own reason for keeping his campaign alive.

"I've always thought if you have enthusiasm building and there are volunteers and there's money in the bank and we haven't had a nomination yet, we should keep campaigning," he told the crowd.

Sarah Miller, 55, came from Greensboro because her son, Andrew, 21, works in Paul's campaign in California. She left impressed by Paul's message.

"It's very compelling," Miller said. "There's a logic and common sense that defies the parties."

Paul also had an appearance at Duke University on Friday night.

The candidate's name remains on the Republican presidential primary ballot in North Carolina, a reminder that Tar Heel voters will have several choices beyond those billed as leading candidates.

"The state GOP has done their best to bury him," said Roxane Premont, an organizer of the Paul events. "This is not really about a presidential campaign. He is the leader of a movement that's about restoring our Constitution and our civil liberties."

Under state law, the heads of the state Democratic and Republican parties determine which presidential candidates are on North Carolina's ballot. Party officials have said they included all "generally recognized" candidates on the ballot.

Voters will be allowed to choose among Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama, former Sen. Mike Gravel or "no preference" on the Democratic side, and among McCain, Paul, former diplomat Alan Keyes, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and "no preference" on the GOP side. (Huckabee has dropped out of the race.)