Ron Paul followers pose danger for McCain in West
- From: old.salt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:33:29 -0700
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Dueling delegations pitting Ron Paul's Nevada
supporters against those of John McCain vow to take their fight to the
Republican National Convention.
That's just one sign that the outsider, Internet-fueled movement led
by the feisty Republican congressman from Texas remains afloat in the
wake of McCain's victory in the GOP primaries.
In the libertarian-leaning West, where Paul's message of distrust of
the federal government and ardent individualism played particularly
well, there is talk of Republicans straying from McCain. Libertarian
candidate Bob Barr has emerged as a favorite alternative for Paul
activists, followed by Constitutional Party candidate Chuck Baldwin.
Even if the numbers of such dissenters are small, in tight contests in
key Western states they could spoil McCain's chances, experts say.
"In Nevada, there's absolutely enough to have an effect on the
election," said Chuck Muth, a leading conservative activist in a state
in which early polls show McCain and Democratic candidate Barack Obama
in a statistical tie.
"I think that you will see not just Libertarians who always vote for
the Libertarian candidate but conservative Republicans saying we've
had it, we've had enough and they're going to go ahead and vote
Libertarian," Muth said.
Paul - or "Dr. Paul," as his followers reverently refer to the
obstetrician-turned-politician - ran as the Libertarian Party nominee
for president in 1988. But this year he carved out a following as an
antiestablishment Republican. His campaign won more than 1 million
votes and became a catchall for anti-war, anti-government voters and
disaffected Republicans.
The eclectic coalition racked up significant numbers. Paul placed
second - ahead of McCain - in Republican caucuses in Nevada and
Montana. He posted strong showings in nominating contests in Colorado,
Washington and Oregon. In early June, he pulled away 14 percent of the
vote from the already certain nominee in the New Mexico primary.
This is the West that McCain must win.
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20080731/D928MAI00.html
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