Ron Paul Gains Delegates at Maine and Nevada State GOP Conventions Held this Weekend

Paul supporters are enlarging GOP and elevating his platform of constitutionally-limited government and restoration of our economic and civil liberties

LAKE JACKSON, Texas – Supporters of 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul made notable gains in state Republican conventions in the key voting states of Maine and Nevada this weekend, affirming his delegate-attainment strategy and injecting uncommon, sorely-needed enthusiasm into GOP party-building efforts.

By Sunday in Maine, Republican convention-goers elected Paul supporters as their state party secretary and chairman, changing the convention atmosphere and altering party operations going forward.  They also elected the state’s RNC committee man and woman, and swept four of four electors.  In addition, Paul supporters won 34 of 50 Maine Republican state committee members elected today, bringing them closer to a majority of the full state committee that consists of 80 members including county chairs.  Especially noteworthy is that the Paul campaign estimates it has elected 20 delegates to the national convention – an airtight majority.  In total, Maine gets 24 delegates, the balance consisting of automatic delegates such as RNC officials, the governor, and the state party chairman.

By Sunday in Nevada, where on Saturday Ron Paul addressed the state convention in Sparks live and in person, Paul supporters won 22 of 28 delegates to the national convention, with establishment-pick Mitt Romney garnering three, and three more reserved for the state GOP chair and two RNC officials.  Other recent developments in Nevada include Paul supporters electing a Paul-friendly state GOP chair by a 2-to-1 margin, the election of a Paul-friendly Nye County GOP chair, acquiring a two-thirds controlling interest in the Clark County GOP executive board, and gaining control of both of the state’s RNC slots.

“We’re extraordinarily pleased with the victories Ron Paul supporters achieved this weekend, and we thank these men and women for their untiring engagement.  Republican Party activists with Paul leanings are affirming the campaign’s delegate-win strategy and making lasting inroads into the party infrastructure, broadening the Republican footprint and strengthening the GOP base that suffers from a dearth of enthusiasm,” said Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Manager John Tate.

“Ron Paul victories in Maine and Nevada are occurring at a time and in a manner helpful for unseating President Obama and restoring America’s liberty and prosperity – goals that, naturally, all Republicans share,” added Mr. Tate.

rEVOLutionizing the Republican Party

Politico’s Charlie Mahtesian observes:

From Nevada, scene of a contentious 2008 battle between the state GOP establishment and Ron Paul supporters, more signs of the rising sophistication — and political maturation — of the Texas congressman’s base.

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

    Four years ago, James Smack grabbed the microphone at the Nevada Republican Party Convention to lead a revolt by Ron Paul supporters.

    That attempt to take over the convention failed when the GOP convention chairman shut the 2008 meeting down.

    Today, Smack is acting chairman of the Nevada Republican Party and among the vanguard of Paul backers methodically taking over the state and county parties from within. They’ve been promoting both the Texas congressman’s ideas and his GOP presidential campaign.

    “I’m a Republican first who happens to support Ron Paul,” Smack said. “I want to get a more libertarian, conservative voice in the party. I want to make sure we have a voice at the table.”

    And a lot of votes. Paul delegates elected at county conventions across Nevada plan a show of force next month at the state convention, where they hope to be elected as delegates to the national convention. The state convention is scheduled for May 4-5 in Sparks.

Nevada isn’t the only state where Paul supporters are diligently working from within the system, either moving to take over the state party or establish a beachhead. In Iowa, Paul’s state vice chair was elected chairman of the state GOP in February. Paul backers in Maine have also been busy and the Georgia blog, Peach Pundit, similarly finds evidence of organizing long after primary day.

It’s not exactly a new practice – supporters of insurgent candidates including Pat Robertson and Howard Dean, among others, followed a similar path. If their experiences are any guide, there will be a lot of blood spilled and, invariably, views that once seemed out of the party mainstream will suddenly begin to get a much more serious airing.

Source: Paulitical Ticker with Jack Hunter

Ron Paul to Campaign in Maine

Heads to Pine Tree State for two-day swing

 

LAKE JACKSON, Texas – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul will travel to the important early caucus state of Maine for a two-day campaign swing.  The visit will occur on Friday and Saturday, January 27th to 28th.

Highlights of the visit include two town halls on college campuses and a visit to Freeport, home of the flagship L.L. Bean store.  All the events are free and open to the public.

Details of the events are as follows. All times Eastern.

Friday, January 27, 2012

10:00 a.m.

Bangor Town Hall

Brick Church

126 Union Street

Bangor, Maine 04401

2:00 p.m.

Waterville Town Hall

Colby College

Diamond Building

Ostrove Auditorium

4000 Mayflower Hill Drive

Waterville, Maine 04901

7:00 p.m.

Lewiston Town Hall

Ramada Inn

490 Pleasant Street

Lewiston, Maine 04240

Saturday, January 28, 2012

11:00 a.m.

Gorham Town Hall

University of Southern Maine at Gorham

Hastings Formal Lounge

37 College Avenue

Gorham, Maine 04038

1:30 p.m.

Freeport Town Hall

Freeport Town Square

Linda Beans Maine Kitchen & Topside Tavern

88 Main Street

Freeport, Maine 04032

5:00 p.m.

Alfred Town Hall

Town Hall

16 Saco Rd

Alfred, Maine 04002