Ron Paul: Last in Florida Primary, Having the Time of His Life
By Chad Peace on 01/31/2012 in Uncategorized with 7 CommentsArticle should take about 3 - 4 minutes to read.
“If enthusiasm would win elections, we’d win hands down.”
You couldn’t tell by Ron Paul’s post-Florida primary speech that he came in last place with just 7% of the vote. An explosive crowd in Henderson, NV ranted and raved as Paul talked about his prospects in caucus states like Iowa and Nevada. Paul declared, “I called Mitt Romney to congratulate him.” Then, after he cordially calmed the wave of boos, he continued, “then I told him I’d see him in the caucus states.”
Although the prospects of Ron Paul winning an all out primary fight are slim, politicos should take note of his strategy, and the implications his run may have on the Republican primary process. While Ron Paul naysayers will point to his Florida results as a testament to his lack of electability, his supporters are quick to point out that Ron Paul had no campaign staff in Florida and spent no money campaigning in the winner-takes-all closed primary state.
As a matter of strategy, Paul knew he could not win Florida in a battle against the well-funded Mitt Romney and well-established Newt Gingrich. So he sent his campaign to Maine (24 delegates) and Nevada (28 delegates) caucus states, where, as Paul exclaimed, “a tireless minority” can really take a stand. It is worth noting that Ron Paul finished in second place in libertarian-leaning Nevada in the 2008 election and garnered over 18% of the vote in Maine in that year.
So if Ron Paul doesn’t win, why does this matter?
As a more philosophical matter, Ron Paul is set on changing the entire political debate. While candidates like Mitt Romney talk about how Obama is going to turn America into Europe, Paul talks about the federal reserve, monetary policy, non-interventionism, Sarbanes–Oxley, and other esoteric political issues that most Americans aren’t going to take the time to really think about. But, if Paul can continue to draw young passionate voters into his camp, his ideas will spread and influence the public, like he has started to influence the Republican Party (anyone else notice how many times Newt said “I agree with Ron Paul” last debate?).
As a more practical matter, Ron Paul could steal enough delegates to prevent Mitt Romney from winning the nomination on the first go-around of votes. In other words, if Mitt Romney fails to pick up at least half of the delegates over Gingrich, Santorum, and Paul combined, Paul wins a significant position of power within the party. Suddenly, his delegates have the power to determine the winner.
And what could happen then? Ron Paul could demand a lead speaking role at the convention. Paul could refuse to release his delegates and the first round of votes ends in a stalemate, releasing all the delegates to vote for whomever they want (even someone who didn’t run!). Newt Gingrich could offer Paul a VP spot in exchange for his delegates.
Who knows.
One thing is certain and Chris Matthews (yes Chris Matthews) said it best, “Ron Paul looks like he had the time of his life tonight … I think Ron Paul is the winner in terms of life here.”
What do you think will happen?
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7 Comments
sailing
01.31.2012
What do I think? I think Ron Paul is going for the win, and meanwhile, is going to have the time of his life! As he has been known to say, “If you aren’t having fun, you’re not doing it right!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtl2ZuJpG9M
Cecily Barber
01.31.2012
Ron Paul supporters are ALL OVER THE NATION, and we’ve been working hard FINDING MORE LIKE US in the past four years!! We are going to SHOW THE GOP WHAT CONSERVATIVES LOOK LIKE!! We are principled, we honor the Constitution,we are liberty-driven, we are informed, we are relentless —-WE ARE RON PAUL!!
Wildbillpace2000
01.31.2012
What good are Straw Polls ? Ron Paul Wins one after another and it doesn’t show in the actual Caucuses and Primaries ? When Votes aren’t counted , they don’t count !
carlton
01.31.2012
Regardless of the eventual outcome his message will carry on. The Revolution has just begun.
blogblag
01.31.2012
The problem that Ron Paul faces is the immense number of sheeple in this country. Most of the the people who vote for Romney or Newt don’t even know what they are voting for. None the less big money always wins due to the Sheeple effect.
Chrissy Shunda
02.01.2012
I was at this speech last night! I am 46 years old and have been a Ron Paul supporter since 2008. Regardless of what ALL the mainsteam media say, or don’t say (media blackout) in discrediting and dismissing both Ron Paul and/or his supporters and his ”moneyball” strategy– I think it’s BRILLIANT! This election series is possibly the most importart decision of our lifetime! With the Patriot Act, NDAA, QE3, more war mongering (Iran, Syria), endless bailouts, Federal Reserve secrecy, etc. looming– GOD HELP US ALL IF HE DOESN’T WIN!
Bill Rice
02.01.2012
Here’s why Paul’s campaign could be extremely influential even if he loses: Somewhere among the millions who are hearing and thinking about Ron Paul’s message is a person who will pick up the torch and finish the campaign by being elected president. This person might be 22 years old right now, maybe younger. But it will take such a person – who sincerely believes in limited government, Constitution, non-interventionist foreign policy, personal liberty and responsibility – who has the charisma and communication skills of, say, a Reagan to restore America to the first principles which made the nation great. That is, I hope Paul’s campaigns do for our future what Goldwater’s campaign did for conservatism. What Goldwater did was set the stage for Reagan. Maybe Paul is setting the stage for such an unknown person. Maybe this is his son, but it’s probably not. This person is unknown to us yet. But this person could finally lead the effort to get Americans to change the way they think about government. What makes America great is individuals not government bureaucrats and ever-growing entitlement spending.This transformation has to happen. If it does, the Ron Paul campaigns will not have been in vain.