Ron Paul Revisited, Yet Ignored

 Maine held its caucuses from Feb. 4 to 11. Romney won 39% while Texas Rep. Ron Paul won 36%, media reports say. Neither Santorum nor former House Speaker Newt Gingrich campaigned in Maine; they drew 18% and 6% respectively there. The percentages reflected about 84% of the state’s precincts reporting. The vote in Maine does not allocate delegates to the Republican National Convention, which is set for the last week in August in Tampa, Fla. The Republican Party convention in Maine, set for May, will select the state’s delegates.

The media and the Republican establishment has already started to spin this so called "victory" as a rebound for Romney, who is generally considered to lead the Republican candidates to run against President Barack Obama in November. Last week he lost three beauty contest to former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum who won Republican votes in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. As in Maine last week’s votes in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri were similarly non-binding.

Having supported Ron Paul and his ideas for years I have noted and complained about his being ignored and dismissed by the media and the Republican establishment. Tonight the campaign of 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul sent an email to supporters regarding today’s caucus results from the state of Maine. See below for a portion of comments from Ron Paul 2012 Campaign Manager John Tate.

“Ron Paul will win the most delegates out of Maine tonight. “In fact, he will probably even win the ‘beauty contest’ straw poll the media has already called for Mitt Romney – even before all the votes have been tallied.“In Washington County – where Ron Paul was incredibly strong – the caucus was delayed until next week just so the votes wouldn’t be reported by the national media today. “Of course, their excuse for the delay was ‘snow.’

“That’s right. A prediction of 3-4 inches – that turned into nothing more than a dusting - was enough for a local GOP official to postpone the caucuses just so the results wouldn’t be reported tonight. “This is MAINE we’re talking about. The GIRL SCOUTS had an event today in Washington County that wasn’t cancelled! “And just the votes of Washington County would have been enough to put us over the top.

Paul said. Romney will "be better off if he wins it and I'm going to be a lot better off if I win. So this will give me momentum and it will just maintain his. It's a pretty important state as far as I'm concerned." It seems that  Paul’s message of liberty and Constitutional principles is resonating with Americans everywhere who are sick and tired of the status quo establishment. He plans to take this campaign on to ‘Super Tuesday’ and beyond.” Maine will continue counting its votes as they come in but because there is no reliable in-state polling, this race is still anybody's game.

 Paul has put a lot of effort into Maine, and while a loss would not be a good sign for Paul more importantly, a win for Paul would mark the fourth consecutive loss for Romney. Losing that many times can't be a good feeling,and strengthens the argument that voters are unexcited by his candidacy. So while Paul continues to assert himself as the only "real alternative" Republican, Romney keeps trying to prove as he says, that he is "severely conservative"

         THIS POST TIES IN WITH OTHER RECENT POST CONCERNING THE PRIMARY