by Country Thinker | February 10th, 2012
This is where Ron Paul’s campaign is keeping it’s eye.
Random Thoughts
(Full disclosure: I am working on Gary Johnson’s campaign, but have great respect for Congressman Paul)
I read an interesting article at Ron Paul’s campaign website, where the campaign claims to be (or will be, technically) the big winner at the caucuses in Colorado, Missouri, and Minnesota on Tuesday. Indeed, the article suggests that Dr. Paul is well-positioned to secure the GOP nomination.
Huh? I thought the media said Rick Santorum won all three contests on Tuesday! And I thought Mitt Romney was the front-runner!
Not so fast, says Paul’s campaign.
The best way I can describe his campaign’s argument is to present an example. Remember that no delegates were awarded on Tuesday. You need a lingering ground game in all three states to actually get the delegates; something the Ron Paul camp is doing.
Anyhow, picture a room with thirty people.
“Who wants Mitt Romney to be the Republican nominee?” asks the person at the front of the room. Eight people raise their hands.
“Who wants Rick Santorum to be the nominee?” Seventeen people raise their hands.
“Who wants Newt Gingrich to be the nominee?” [Sound of cricket chirping]
“Who wants Ron Paul to be the nominee? Nobody, right?” In spite of the immature, condescending tone of the person in front, five people raise their hands.
The Rick Santorum folks jump for joy after a five-minute prayer session. The Romney folks lick their wounds and vow to spend more money and get even more negative. The mindless media reports it all as instructed by the Republican establishment.
Meanwhile, the Ron Paul folks are grinning.
Why?
The five people who voted for him are the delegates.
Now I don’t know if this is a desperate assertion from a campaign that is struggling to get past the media’s information blockade. This is from a campaign website, after all, and its purpose is to advocate for Ron Paul. But one thing is clear, the Paul camp is angling for delegates, not the overall vote total.
Can this strategy succeed? I’m in no position to answer that question. But given that he’s running against three guys who left public office in disgrace after the last time voters gave them a chance, it just might work.
But that’s his strategy, and the best way to hit a home run is to keep your eye on the ball. By focusing on delegates, the Paul campaign seems to be focused on the only votes that matter.
Crazy as a fox or just crazy? Time will tell.
.jpg)
I’ve been following the Ron Paul board for about a year now, and the catchphrase has always been “it’s all about the delegates”. I know that the RP community has been actively pushing for people to become delegates for the past year real hard. Meanwhile, Joe Blow conservative doesn’t have a clue how the delegate thing works. I know I didn’t and I’m pretty sharp. They don’t teach this stuff in school. In case you think the Establishment doesn’t know how it works, Catherine Bliesche got on the Homeland Security watchlist for being a Ron Paul delegate in 2007 from Missouri. They’ll always tell you who you’re afraid of.
Glad you’re working with Gary J and to know that there is another person out there running for limited government.
republican mother recently posted..Postcards from the Edge
I’m putting together a central Ohio team, and we’ll be on the ground now until election day. Newt showed up for a day or two last week, but right now we’re the only ones working Ohio other than the RP folks.
Country Thinker recently posted..Did Ron Paul Sweep Tuesday’s Caucuses?
Hiya! I just want to give a huge thumbs up for the good data you might have right here on this post. I will probably be coming again to your website for more soon.