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.
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.
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?