Could Maine Deliver Ron Paul A Victory?

Republican's Army Of Volunteers Gives Him A Boost In State's Overlooked Caucuses

(AP)  Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has a couple of things going for him at this weekend's Republican caucuses: a band of highly motivated supporters and a natural appeal to Maine's like-minded independents.

His stop in the state earlier this week also made him the only presidential contender from either party to visit before the caucuses.

"I think that (because) he's paid attention to Maine, he'll be rewarded," R. Kenneth Lindell, Paul's campaign coordinator in Maine, said Thursday.

Maine's GOP polling Friday, Saturday and Sunday may be the Texas congressman's best shot at winning a state, and such a feat would be big, coming just days before next week's Super Tuesday presidential preference contests in more than 20 states.

Lindell wouldn't get into specifics about the number of volunteers Paul has in the state, except to say they number in the hundreds - not a small figure considering Maine's relatively small population and meager share of the national delegate pool.

Paul has drawn a mix of young voters who are getting involved in politics for the first time, longtime Republicans with libertarian leanings or who are unhappy with the direction the party's been going and independents who've left the party, Lindell said.

Maine Republicans are holding the only presidential preference event this weekend. Maine Democrats will gather the following weekend.

The nonbinding Republican caucuses are the first step toward electing Maine's 18 delegates to the party's national convention. Three ranking party leaders also go. Maine awards all of its delegates to the caucus winners.

As for Paul's prospects, he can take heart that Mainers tend to march to their own drummer.

In 1992, H. Ross Perot delivered a shocker in Maine, beating out Kennebunkport's George H.W. Bush to come in second behind Bill Clinton. And that came after former California Gov. Jerry Brown donned a plaid shirt while campaigning in Maine to beat Clinton in the Democratic caucuses.

Unenrolled or independent voters can play an important role in Maine politics, since they make up the largest bloc of voters. The law allows independents to come in the day of the caucus and register with a party.

"If we have a good showing here in Maine, that could carry forward into Super Tuesday when we could pick up delegates," Lindell said. That would be significant in the case of a brokered convention, he said.

Julie O'Brien, executive director of the state Republican Party, said Paul supporters have been resourceful in finding opportunities for support, for example, organizing caucuses in towns where none had been scheduled.

"I have felt strongly for three weeks that he stood a better chance (in Maine) than any other candidate," O'Brien said. But her view has eased slightly now that Arizona Sen. John McCain won in Florida and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is no longer in the running.

Also, Maine GOP efforts to encourage general caucus participation could send more supporters for McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to the polls, she noted.

Mark Brewer, who teaches political science at the University of Maine, doesn't see Paul as a favorite but added that the congressman's best chances are in caucus states like Maine. Paul finished second in the Nevada caucuses on Jan. 19.

"I wouldn't be completely stunned if Ron Paul won the caucuses" in Maine, Brewer said.

[lone-star5]

Doesn''t look like it!

[jt_lancer]

pakaal: "Paul''s followers harp on how everything he does "follows the Constitution". Unfortunately, his understanding of the Constitution comes through the tinted lenses of Libertarian ideals, a not-so-common and certainly not very mainstream American way of seeing things."

CORRECT you are. ''Mainstream America'' seeks to use the police power of the State to benefit themselves at the expense of others. Ron Paul is definitely against that.

As far as public schools being ''unaffordable'', are they affordable now? On average, the govt spends $7,000 or more to ''educate'' a child in public schools.

Would you call that affordable? It''s not very affordable for those who are forced to pay property taxes to educate someone else''s children - at the expense of their own family.

The ''tinted lens'' of libertarian ideals is, essentially, a philosophy of freedom, liberty, and opposition to the use of force against peaceful people.

As you said, mainstream America''s way of ''seeing things'' is quite different - because most people do not want individual freedom and personal responsibility.

They want to be able to suck off the teat of the government and live at the expense of everyone else. It''s the American way!

[pakaal]

Yep, good old Ron Paul. No more public education? Great for those who can afford it, sucks for the tens of millions of Americans who can''t. Abolishing restrictions on oil and gas production? Great for record-profit-making oil companies, sucks for all of America as we lose our national wildlife preserves forever. Physically secure all 16,000 miles of the American border? We can''t even secure the borders in one state. He''s against the coordinated national "Amber alert" system? Tell that to Amber Hagerman - oh wait, he can''t, she was kidnapped and murdered. Automatic weapons on the streets? Sure, Ron don''t mind that!

Paul''s followers harp on how everything he does "follows the Constitution". Unfortunately, his understanding of the Constitution comes through the tinted lenses of Libertarian ideals, a not-so-common and certainly not very mainstream American way of seeing things.

[jt_lancer]

Nancy Naive: "Ron Paul has very little in common with the planet."

Well, he has very little in common with the American voters that wish to use the police power of the State to tax and spend citizens'' money on an endless stream of redistributive welfare programs that don''t work.

Ron Paul has very little in common with American voters that wish to tax and spend citizens'' money on perpetual warfare in an endless stream of foreign countries.

Ron Paul has nothing in common with American voters who wish to expand the Orwellian surveillance state by compromising the civil liberties and privacy of every citizen.

Ron Paul has nothing in common with American voters who want the State to regulate and legislate every activity in our economic and personal lives.

Yes, Ron Paul has nothing in common with those who advocate repression and tyranny.

However, he has alot in common for those of us who desire a country where freedom, liberty, personal responsibility, peace, and prosperity are cherished and honored.

Nancy_Naive

Dear Nancy,
I challenge you are anyone to show me anything that (WACKO) Ron Paul has said that does not come directly out of the U.S. Constitution.

So I guess what you''re really saying is: "Those old days of less goverment and fewer taxes are an outdated idea." "We need mandatory healthcare and free amnsesty for everyone!"(socialism)

And that following the recommendations of financial experts on our nation''s economy and following the recommendations of the C.I.A.- 9/11 Commission Report
is also "silly"?

Nancy - Naive. Good name.

[bhappy2-2]

Ron Paul has my support. If he doesn''t make it as the Republican candidate I hope he will continue as an Independent. He is the only logical choice.

antoniof123

Ron Paul has nothing in common with "GOP" majority. Why do you think they keep shunning him and attacking him. All of the other GOP candidates despise Ron Paul.

He never voted for a tax increase. Nor an unbalanced budget. Nor the War. He''s the Head of the Goverments''s Financial Commity. He knows econonomics and they don''t.

But you''ll never hear about this antoniof123. Because the GOP doesn''t want you to hear this. But you will soon hear the sound of a stampede when Hillary get''s elected and the IRS Agents start running over each other to get a hold of your paychecks.

[antoniof123]

There was a time when I was a Republican libertarian that I would have supported him. Not now not after 7 years of a worthless Republican President and his worthless congress who destroyed most of the things we hold dear.

Sorry but you are a day late and a dollar short.

[johnfrost-2009]

SELF MADE BILLIONAIRE vs Gov.Leeches.

Self Made Billionaire, Mitt Romney, President
Fred Thompson VP
Giuliani, Sec State
Tom Tancredo;Int. Secy

NO DEMO-ALQAIDAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!

macobahill= Gov leeches,demoalqaidas.

[gunownerdan]

Today is Ron and Carol Paul''s -51st- wedding anniversary!
Dr. Paul proves that the term "honest politician" is no longer an oxymoron.

Hope For America
ronpaul2008.com