Santorum campaign suggests Mitt Romney may have done deal to make Ron Paul his running mate
http://harndenblog.dailymail.co.uk/2012/02/santorum-campaign-suggests-romney-may-have-done-deal-to-make-ron-paul-his-running-mate.htmlAfter tonight's debate, in which Ron Paul and Mitt Romney repeatedly attacked Rick Santorum over his 16-year record in Congress, the former Pennsylvania hinted that something nefarious was going on. "You have to ask Congressman Paul and Governor Romney what they've got going together,"
Santorum told reporters in the spin room in Mesa, Arizona. "Their commercials look a lot alike and so do their attacks." Santorum's top strategist John Brabender went even further, charging that the two men had "joined forces" and were coordinating attacks against his man
"Clearly there's a tag team strategy between Ron Paul and Mitt Romney. For all I know, Mitt Romney might be considering Ron Paul as his running mate. Clearly there is now an alliance between those two and you saw that certainly in the debate." The was also coordination in their attack ads, he charged. "Ron Paul for all practical purposes has pulled out of Michigan. Correct? Where's he running negative ads against Rick Santorum? Michigan.
"It was interesting to me that if you watch Ron Paul when he came into the debate wrote negative things about Rick Santorum down because when he started to get questions he would immediately pick up his paper and start mentioning Santorum stuff." He added: "What is amazing to me this shows a remarkable ability by Romney, who has already proven to be the most negative man in history on TV, now he's even training his opponents to be negative for his benefit and actually I think that takes remarkable skill."
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my take, and why
The main reason this has any credibilty is the 'behind-the-scenes' delegate control strategy of the Paul campaign, who could have enough actual delegates at the convention that he controls to tip the nomination to any of the other 3 candidates:
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/291218/ron-paul-s-delegate-strategy-katrina-trinko?pg=2
Ron Pauls Delegate Strategy
The Paul campaign has focused on diligently training its supporters, who, as any reporter whose e-mail address is public can tell you, are a passionate lot. Paul backers are willing not to just show up and pull the lever for Paul, but also to learn the arcane rules that govern delegate selection.
Consider what happened at one Maine caucus site. Washington Post reporter Felicia Somnez reported that while the original schedule had been selection of delegates first and then the caucus vote, a voters proposal that the order be reversed was approved by the attendees. Around half of voters had come for the caucus vote, not for the delegate selection. The state delegate race would be conducted with only about half that many people in the room, Somnez wrote. And that meant the pool had effectively been reduced to only the most committed voters of an already quite diehard bunch among them, many Paul supporters like [Alex] Lyscars who were willing to spend more than four hours at a caucus on a Saturday afternoon and for whom the straw-poll results were secondary to the actual delegate race.
After Maines caucus, the state GOP called Romney the caucus winner. But the Paul campaign had a different spin on the outcome. We are confident we will control the Maine delegation for the convention in August, said Benton in a statement issued that night. The campaign estimates that about 75 percent of the states current delegates are Paul supporters. And its not just Maine and Colorado. Talking to reporters in January, Benton predicted that the Paul campaign would ultimately win the Iowa delegation, even though we took a close third place . . . on caucus night. Seventy-five percent of the Minnesota delegates to local party conventions are Paul backers, according to the campaign.
Ultimately, the odds that Paul could get enough delegates to swing the national convention to a vote nominating him are nil. But the more delegates Paul controls, the more of an impact he can have on determining the GOP platform at the convention. Furthermore, if it does come to a brokered convention admittedly an unlikely scenario the Paul campaign will be ready. Benton refuses to speculate about what the specific odds are that there will be a brokered convention, but does say of the possibility, Weve always seen it as more likely than most people would.
Kithim
(5 posts)I do not think there is any alliance between Paul and Romney. I don't see how Ron Paul and Romney both attacking Santorum equates to an alliance between the two. Ron Paul and Romney both dislike Santorum. That does not mean they like each other. The idea that Romney is training Paul to do his bidding seems absurd. The Paul campaign has long said that the race was between Paul and Romney, for they believe such a race will give Paul more votes. So it makes sense that Paul wants the other two out. Romney probably feels threatened by Santorum's recent wins, and wants him out as well.
I doubt Paul would even consider being the VP. He refuses to even say he will support the eventual nominee. Are there common interests? Sure. But then again all the candidates have a common interest of defeating Obama. But there is no alliance. Such a theory just seems incredibly improbable.
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)Galraedia
(5,014 posts)Ron Paul is nothing more then Mitt Romney's butt-bangle booty buddy.
AllyCat
(15,987 posts)They are completely crazy.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Is it too late to Draft Palin?
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Of course no such deal will ever be made.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)wrestling analogies. Hot sweaty wrestlers straining under the lights, grunting and moaning and slapping and............
starroute
(12,977 posts)He just can't help himself, can he?
Myrina
(12,296 posts)Ricky's got some splainin' to do!!
Democrat18
(28 posts)But I agree Ron Paul could be doing just that.
Morning Dew
(6,539 posts)Democrat18
(28 posts)stockholmer
(3,751 posts)Democrat18
(28 posts)marble falls
(56,029 posts)A vice President older than Reagan was when he was President, and even goofier than Ronnie. Priceless.
Response to stockholmer (Original post)
JJW This message was self-deleted by its author.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)Its odd how aggressive Paul has gotten against Saint Santorum recently. Must be some sort of deal maybe not VP but something significant. It could be effective because many GOPers respect Paul even if they would never vote for him. It gives Rmoney some cred he didnt have before.
CatholicEdHead
(9,740 posts)Romney is mainstream with his religion (not in your face). Paul goes after the sometimes atheist anti-government wing. What you will have is a moderate the GOP movers and shakers like along with someone who appeals to the rank and file anti-government/libertarian/militia types. You end up taking Jesus out of the campaign. You end up with a complete economic ticket and social issues will be tossed to the background.
hayrow1
(198 posts)blm
(112,871 posts)either a running mate or some position high up in the party.
Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)Javaman
(62,394 posts)paranoia!
Fine by me.
Frankly, I think in the end, lizard man is going to endorce Romney.
Which would seal ass froths fate.
Paul, I don't think will endorce anyone, because by convention time, he will have zero influence on anything.
Lizard man controls a portion of the ultra crazy right. A portion that ass froth would kill to get.
it's amusing to think that lizard man will be the spoiler, but then again, I think that's what whole mission is about.
sofa king
(10,857 posts)...by allowing itself to be swallowed.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,338 posts)also I don't think that that the "base" would go for it either- not that I would accuse Romney of being very politically saavy either but still.................
bluedigger
(17,073 posts)Nobody thinks he can get the nomination, but he will have a lot of influence. I suspect he has at least a couple of goals. First, he will insist that the Republican platform includes auditing the Fed - I'm okay with that, actually.
Secondly, I think he will try to get a VP nomination - but not for himself - for his son, Rand. If he can deliver the Paulista votes, Rand would be a decent VP candidate - younger, and without all the wounds and primary baggage that the other Presidential candidates have suffered during the primary. Also, a young VP would be a strong future candidate for President...
grantcart
(53,061 posts)If he's on the 'short' list then he has to be considered orthodox enough to be the pick, if he's orthodox enough to be picked for VP then he certainly can run for nomination next time. Clever strategy of expanding perceptions like a latex glove. Eventually it will fit.
Ron Paul is simply doing an indepth volunteer recruiting campaign to get an early start on Rand Paul's inevitable candidacy for the Republican nomination.
And, its pretty damn clever.
While the party elders are looking the other way this weird little guy is laying the foundation for a schism that will truely split the Republican Party apart.
They don't even see it.
bluedigger
(17,073 posts)Either way, it helps legitimize Rand. The way I see it, if Romney gets the nomination, and inevitably loses, then your prediction will be in play and Paul will attempt to split the party. If Santorum somehow gets the nod, and inevitably loses, then Paul will be the Republican Party going forward, because there will be nothing else left.
harun
(11,347 posts)yurbud
(39,405 posts)life insurance.
No one would dare kill either and risk a Quayle or Cheney presidency respectively.
That logic only holds for elite fear of Ron Paul though not because of his beliefs but because he doesn't change them based on the checks he gets.
maximusveritas
(2,915 posts)People who aren't as attuned to politics will call him "paranoid" or making excuses. It would be better to wait for the media to point it out. I don't think it helps the image of Paul or Romney for them to be seen making back-room deals.
bluedigger
(17,073 posts)Imagine the uproar if Romney offered Paul a Cabinet position, Secretary of State, for example.
xxqqqzme
(14,887 posts)comedy show started? That picture is creepy.
Doc Holliday
(719 posts)"They're conspiring against me!"
flamingdem
(39,300 posts)should be put in prison.
Brettongarcia
(2,262 posts)The basic idea in both, is this: take away government, and let the ordinary people work things out.
By the way, it doesn't work; as we saw in Robber Barons, and the 1960's communes. Drop all the rules? And a crazy strong man/cult leader takes over.
But? Libertarianism/Anarachy is still an invaluable thought-experiment for college freshmen. Suppose indeed there was no government; then what would happen?
Bad things as it turns out. But its fun to play with ... as a crazy hypothesis.
flamingdem
(39,300 posts)anarchist "learning experience" with him. Try Murry Bookchin.
UCmeNdc
(9,584 posts)It does seem strange how Ron Paul never attacks Mitt Romney. It seems like there is a back room deal being consummated.
yellowcanine
(35,690 posts)He will now sell off the profitable parts of the campaign and write off the rest.
RZM
(8,556 posts)Though I think it's possible that he would offer it to Rand Paul. Very unlikely, but not outside the realm of possibility.
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)in the opposition, often perceived as a conspiracy.
Just more evidence they are paranoid and delusional