Former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico,
the presidential candidate of the Libertarian Party, will be looking to steal a
little of the national spotlight away from the Republican convention in Tampa
in August as he makes a pitch to supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.
With Paul not expected to endorse former
Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the presumptive Republican presidential
candidate, the Johnson camp hopes to make inroads with the maverick Texas
congressman’s backers.
National Campaign Manager John
Tate condemns Shreveport event’s “unnecessary conflict” and applauds its
“positive conclusion”
LAKE JACKSON, Texas – The Ron Paul 2012
Presidential campaign released the following statement concerning the outcome
of the Louisiana State Republican Convention.
Below please find comments from National Campaign Manager John Tate:
“The Ron Paul campaign condemns the
unfortunate activities that took place at the Louisiana Republican State
Convention in Shreveport.
“However, we also wish to highlight and
applaud the fact that the convention ended on a high note reflective of the
cooperation all Republicans wish to see toward the mutual aim of defeating
President Obama in the November general election.
“The unnecessary conflict, and positive
conclusion as we understand it, transpired as follows.
“LAGOP officials ignored the vast
majority of duly elected delegates and attempted to use illegally adopted rules
to deny Ron Paul supporters an opportunity to attend the Republican National
Convention in Tampa. Louisiana has 46
delegates. Five were pledged to Mitt
Romney based on the March 23rd primary result and Rick Santorum received 10,
meaning most delegates were contestable at the state convention.
“Delegates to the state convention were
chosen at caucus meetings on April 28th.
Ron Paul slates won four of six congressional district contests. Of the approximately 180 delegates attending
the state convention, 113 voted to remove the LAGOP chairman when he failed to
respond to requests for information and other motions from delegates. Nearly two-thirds of the delegates began
physically moving their chairs, literally turning their back on the GOP chair
appointed by the party hierarchy.
“In another instance, State Central
Committeeman and Ron Paul supporter Henry Herford Jr. of Franklin Parrish was
attacked by some security officials who didn’t realize that the body had voted
out the previous chairman. Mr. Herford
has a prosthetic hip and according to a doctor at the scene it appears as
though the prosthetic was dislocated and may require replacement. The injury occurred as he was beginning to
call to order the newly re-formed convention.
“In yet another instance, Ron Paul
supporter Alex Helwig, Chairman of the Rules Committee who made the motion to
remove the chair, was arrested by Shreveport police and released. During his brief detainment, some of his
fingers were broken and when he returned to the event he was walking with aid
of a cane.
“By 10:50 a.m. today, the newly formed
convention completed its work.
Newly-elected national delegates met with the Romney campaign’s
Louisiana Chairman, Scott Sewell, who graciously said ‘that he supported the
effort and would do everything he could to make sure the delegation was seated’
in Tampa.
“Despite the divisiveness that
characterized the Louisiana state convention initially, we are thankful that
the Paul and Romney campaigns took the high road to guarantee the
enfranchisement of Republicans whose candidate preferences differ.
“Republicans of goodwill agree that
following the spirited primary season, the general election presents us with an
opportunity to defeat Obama and place the nation on a path to recovery.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those
who were injured at the convention. And,
we thank all responsible convention participants for ending the day on a more
unified note.”
