Early in March, as the Republican nomination campaign winded down for good, Ron Paul stopped campaigning for the nomination, but he didn't stop campaigning:
"So when people say Ron Paul is out of the Presidential race, that's true, not true, partly true, how would you describe it?" Roberts asked.
"I would think in the nominal sense, what are the odds of us overcoming delegates of John McCain or his delegates deserting, in that way it's over. But the campaign to get the maximum number of votes the max amount of delegates to participate in writing platforms and talking about the future, I think we're very much involved and very much alive," Paul said, arguing that so many people had worked on his campaign and "I don't feel good about walking away from them."
With the Pennsylvania primary, we have now seen the "second stage" of his campaign. With little to compete with, the Texas Congressman had his best showing of the process, netting 16 percent of Republican voters. He made 4 stops to the state, and that combined with his vote share is a lot for a non-contender after the race is entirely over. If he keeps this up, he'll gain a small yet significant number of delegates for the Republican Convention, and that may be enough to assert some influence on the next Republican platform.
The following seems to signify what follows:
Benton estimated that Paul will arrive at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis with 50 delegates. That's enough to make some noise, if not enough to rewrite the party platform to suit the Texan's libertarian tastes.
What's next for the Paul Revolution? The Good Doctor has a new book coming out on April 30: "The Revolution, A Manifesto."
Would 50 be enough to re-write some of the Republican Platform? Will he even get 50 delegates?
I'm not sure about the latter, but I don't even think he needs 50 to have an effect. 30 might even do. The Republican Party is, policy-wise, in shambles. The Republican Presidential Nominee even embodies policy confusion. On social issues, he disagrees with the party's power-brokers of the last decade. On economic issues, he isn't even sure where he stands -- if you listen to everything he says it will only confuse you.
Even on the one issue that seems to bring the party together (except Ron Paul), the War on Iraq, is thought of by some conservatives as a detriment to the cause. The party may claim to parade "conservatism," but the party only stands together on issues astray from Reagan's movement!
So can an obscure doctor from Texas affect the Republican party? I think so. If there's ever a time when Republicans might listen to differing ideas, it would be now. (Oddly, though; it seems that the National Republicans might be more likely to listen than the state ones -- who all apparently agree that immigration is devilish and that Christianity should rule.)
But how much can he change? I'm not really sure. And as for what he wants to get done, you may want to read his book when it arrives later this month. And regarding how the "Revolution" actually concludes, well; I just hope it's for the good of the nation. |
