Earlier I described how the
primary/caucus process was broken in that it provided vastly different levels
of influence to different populations.
Following on that theme:
As of May, the Republican primary process has basically been
over for more than a month. Despite
this, the process is technically continuing, including the district-level
caucuses that are the second stage of determining state delegates in many
states. This of course includes states
whose initial votes have already come and gone months ago. The problem is that nobody cares about the
process at this point. If an insufficient
number of Romney supporters show up to formally nominate the actual delegates for
the convention, they still need to nominate delegates somehow, and Ron Paul’s
fervent supporters have been quite willing to shoulder that responsibility.
Consider the following states have had two-stage caucus
processes, and the difference in the timing would not be meaningful except that
Ron Paul is still determined to collect as many delegates as possible. Here are his results so far in several states:
State
|
Ron Paul’s Statewide Result (%)
|
Delegates
|
Delegate Proportion (%)
|
Maine
|
18
|
21 of 24
|
88
|
Massachusetts*
|
10
|
16 of 27 (11 remain to be
allocated)
|
59
|
Colorado
|
12
|
17 of 33
|
51
|
Nevada**
|
19
|
22 of 28
|
79
|
Minnesota
|
27
|
20 of 24 (16 remain to be
allocated)
|
83
|
Louisiana
|
6
|
17 of 33 (13 remain to be
allocated)
|
51
|
*In Massachusetts, the delegates
are obligated by law to vote on the first ballot according to results of the
primary, but may participate as delegates of the candidate of their choice
for all other purposes, including nomination of a VP candidate. Paul has 0 votes on the first ballot.
** In Nevada, the delegates are
obligated by law to vote on the first ballot according to results of the
primary, but may participate as delegates of the candidate of their choice
for all other purposes, including nomination of a VP candidate. Paul has 8 votes on the first ballot.
|
Several other states are operating under the same rules and will
likely have similar results to varying degrees, including Iowa, Alaska,
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
While this system is not going to keep Romney from being
nominated, it may give Paul some leverage at the convention. It may also lead to a situation where Romney
looks out on a sea of people waving Paul banners as he accepts his nomination, which
could only be seen as embarrassing.
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