Charles Krauthammer already has labeled Ron Paul the big winner from the year’s first two Republican presidential contests. TIME‘s Mark Halperin offers a similar assessment in the magazine’s latest issue:

Libertarian Ron Paul, once dismissed as an intriguing, entertaining but irrelevant fringe candidate, has emerged from the first two contests with undeniable clout. Barring some unforeseen drama, he will almost certainly end the nomination season with the second highest number of delegates. Paul, 76, no longer can be called fringe. He captured more than 1 in 5 votes in Iowa and New Hampshire.