Ron Paul Could Raise Hell at GOP Convention

Posted on Jun 21, 2012

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Thanks to a rule change at the 2008 convention and a large, enthusiastic group of supporters, Ron Paul could wreak havoc at the Republican National Convention. Paul needs only a plurality of delegates from five states instead of a majority to be eligible for the presidential or vice presidential nomination.

Paul has a majority in three states from the primaries—Maine, Minnesota and Iowa—and his supporters have already won 22 of the 28 delegate seats in Nevada. Although Nevada’s delegates are obligated to support Romney for the presidential nomination, they are free to nominate Paul or any other candidate for vice president. If Paul’s supporters manage to secure a plurality in one more state, Paul could then be nominated for vice president, causing a long, arduous floor vote, in which other candidates could also be nominated if they met the five-state plurality qualification. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie spring to mind as possibilities, if support for either organizes at the convention in opposition to Romney’s preferred pick.

Even if Paul decides not to go for the vice presidential nomination, he could threaten a floor vote to change another element of the convention. He may decide to change the GOP platform or land a major speaking position. Whatever he decides to do, Ron Paul’s persistence is starting to pay off. —CN

The Huffington Post:

This may be the Ron Paul gambit we’ve been waiting for.

An obscure rule change made four years ago by the Republican Party has opened the door for Paul forces to cause a major headache for Mitt Romney when he tries to nominate his choice for vice president at the party convention in August.

The Republican National Committee could change Rule 40 in the week leading up to the convention, but that would risk the appearance of jamming Romney’s nominee through, and likely cause a subsequent backlash.

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