The field is set.
Posted on 05/14/2012 12:49:46 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
While Ron Paul is still seeking delegates, he has called it quits on the campaign trail.
The Houston-area congressman announced this afternoon that he will no longer actively campaign in the remaining primary states, including his home state of Texas.
In an email to supporters that also was posted on his campaign web site, Paul explained the decision largely came down to cost. To continue, it would require “many tens of millions of dollars we simply do not have.”
“I hope all supporters of liberty will remain deeply involved – become delegates, win office, and take leadership positions,” he said in the email. “I will be right there with you. In the coming days, my campaign leadership will lay out to you our delegate strategy and what you can do to help, so please stay tuned.”
Paul’s announcement will affect his plans in late-primary states such as Texas (May 29) and California and New Jersey (June 5). But he is pushing to maximize his delegate count in states where the delegate-selection process is still underway.
“Our campaign will continue to work in the state convention process,” he wrote. “We will continue to take leadership positions, win delegates, and carry a strong message to the Republican National Convention that Liberty is the way of the future.”
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.chron.com ...
I could be wrong, but I’m thinking look for Rand Paul for VP.
Smart move by Paul to concentrate his resources in a way that will get him the most influence in Tampa. I still hope he is able to deny 1144 delegates to Mr. Romney. Of course the MSM spin will continue to be all Romney all the time, even though it is clear that Paul is not quitting.
The field is set.
May the best socialist win.
I don't believe that is in the cards.
Dam. I guess drugs and prostitution won’t be legalized anytime soon then.
“Dam. I guess drugs and prostitution won’t be legalized anytime soon then.”
Nor will guns, or religion, or any other individual freedoms.
This move makes an implausible scenario - denying Romney 1144 - pretty much impossible, because to be able to deny him the nomination, he would have to win delegates in the upcoming contests, where the delegates won by Romney will be bound to vote first ballot. And by suspending his campaign with big delegate prizes like Texas and California ahead, there's pretty much no way Paul can stop Romney from getting to 1144 (he's already over 800).
What I observed here in Maine was a very well organized team aimed at gaining national delegates and county delegates to the state committee.
They new the rules inside out, and were assisted at convention by one of the co-drafters of the current edition of Roberts Rules. Many of the mainstream/romney people were left slack jawed.
I would expect the same at the national convention.
Most of the states use primary systems and those delegates are bound to support the candidate receiving the most votes on the first ballot. E.g., the Paul delegates in Massachusetts who were able to get in a position to go to Tampa will have to vote for Romney on the first ballot.
Unless they have no plan on following that rule once they get there, I don't see much they can do to keep Romney from getting the nod.
Not entirely correct, mostly because of state delegation rules. For example, some states do not require a first ballot vote for a given candidate, and other states permit delegates to “abstain” from a first ballot vote.
I will hand it to the Paul supporters, that they have been “fine-tooth combing” state party rules looking for loopholes and have found a bunch of them. To the point where nobody really knows how many ‘actual’ delegates are for Romney.
Because the vast majority of delegates to the convention are conservatives, as much as 60-70%, many “Romney delegates” are tepid in their support for him at best, and are just going for the sake of going. But because the Paul supporters are enthusiastic and determined, they have ‘packed’ a bunch of states with Paul delegates.
Paul himself said as much by discontinuing his campaign, that it is obvious he cannot win against the onerous Romney’s money in the popular vote—but he *can* put all his effort to “packing the house” in Tampa.
And all he his people have to do is deny Romney a first ballot win, and it is a whole new ballgame. This is not to say that Paul could win the nomination, which he can’t, but he can demand substantial policy concessions from both the more conservative nominee *and* the GOP leadership.
Which would be the best of possible worlds for everyone and the country.
May the best socialist win.
Is there a best when it comes to socialists? May the least worst win?
Either way. America loses. And that is very sad in this time of need.
We are operating under the assumption ‘bound’ candidates are actually bound.
See the ‘unit rule’ of the RNC convention rules.
Well said.
You have missed the entire reason why Ron Paul has been running for President all of these years.
The two main points of Ron Paul’s Primary Campaign are as follows: 1.) FORCE THE GOP Elite TO HAVE AN OPEN CONVENTION; 2.) Allow the Delegates to vote for a dark horse who did not run in the Primary, such as Col. West of Florida.
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If Paul’s plan to cut 1 TRILLION dollars in year-to-year Federal spending, AND abolish 5 Federal Departments are the main reasons for Iowa Delegates to thaw out their opposition to Paul, then it might later be said that “as Iowa goes, so goes the Nation.”
BTW, “T” is for Texas, Tampa and those of us who are TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY!”
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Here are some more reasons to vote for Ron Paul in the remaining Primary elections:
1.) It will drive the Liberal Agenda Media (LAM) and their Rove-style political consultants NUTS!
2.) It will deny statistical support to Romney.
3.) It could result in an OPEN Convention in Tampa.
4.) It would irritate the snot out of the GOP-E.
5.) It will put the GOP-E on notice that we think that their RINO Party has done NOTHING since we sent 89 TEA Party men and women to the US Congress in 2010.
6.) An OPEN Convention is our ONLY chance of a successful DUMP ROMNEY campaign.
7.) A superb, true “Dark Horse” Republican Nominee needs an OPEN Convention to replace Romney.
BTW, did I mention the sheer joy of watching the GOP-Endorsers publicly eating crow?
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What the Liberal Agenda Media has never figured out, is that the 2012 National Election will be the last National Election where Campaign topics other than the National Debt will be debated again.
IOW, when the grim reaper of financial reality forces Federal Politicians in “both” parties to pay the US Bond owners before payments to our Entitlement recipients, it will terminate discussion on the main topics that we chatter about so far in 2012.
This National election is all about the money, your grandchildren’s descendant’s money.
Ron Paul is to old and to disliked as being different from what most voters picture a US President to look and sound like to win the Nomination.
HOWEVER, Ron Paul as an Anbody-but-Romney candidate in Tampa is our last, best chance to have an OPEN Convention in Tampa, and for that alone he deserves our Primary voter support.
Paul has soldiered on through this entire Primary Campaign. Let us help him establish a beachhead on the Shores of Tampa!
A “Dump Romney” action requires an OPEN Convention.
For those who object to Paul as a Nominee, then treat him as a tired old political soldier who will, with our help, win the Battle to achieve an OPEN Convention in Tampa.
THEN the delegates can win the War, and choose the best Nominee to solve our National Debt Problem.
Remember, this election is all about the money, your grandchildren’s descendant’s money - - - - .
What is the best way that you can use your Primary vote to help the financial future of YOUR descendants?
My goal is to defeat the insanity of Keyensian Economics in “both” of our very sorry political parties THIS YEAR!
This can be accomplished by choosing a stellar Dark Horse Nominee, such as R-Rep. West of Florida, to slaughter Obama in a November Landslide.
The key is to FORCE the GOP-E to allow for an OPEN Convention in Tampa. Without an OPEN Convention the SOS of INSANE Federal Spending will keep America on the same crowded track with Greece, and Kalifornia.
There are over 15, 000, 000, 000, 000 reasons why spending more money this year than was taken in during the previous year is an INSANE path to financial destruction.
Neither Obama or Romney have presented a plan to spend our Federal dollars in a non-insane manner.
For example, the GOP Elite have stood in line to endorse Romney, endorse “The Ryan Budget,” and compromise-away every opportunity to reduce Federal Spending.
I included the Ryan Budget, because Rep. Paul Ryan himself says that his “Budget” will balance in 30 YEARS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW, I added those exclamation points, because both you and I know that Ryan’s budget will NEVER balance, and thus never be a fact. The exclamation points are just for volume emphasis.
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