Ron Paul Supporters Cause County Convention Chaos - East Idaho News
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Ron Paul Supporters Cause County Convention Chaos

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Getty P 011012 RonPaul?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1331806926915Yoon S. Byun/The Boston Globe via Getty Images(DENVER) — After 25 state election contests, Ron Paul remains without a single win.  But the Texas congressman isn’t giving up hope of capturing the Republican nomination.

Aides say Paul is banking on his organization to help him pick up a plurality or even a majority of delegates in several state conventions, including Alaska, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Iowa and Washington State.

And as campaigning continues, there are signs that Paul supporters are willing to make the nominating process messy.  They’re accused of muddying county conventions in Colorado and Iowa last weekend.

In Iowa, a half dozen counties reported disruptions during conventions.  The most egregious example occurred in Polk County, where Paul supporters illegally tried to become delegates.

“They were abrasive, offensive, and self-centered,” said Kevin McLaughlin, GOP chairman in Polk County.

In Colorado, Paul supporters shouted down Denver County GOP Chairman Danny Stroud, demanding rule changes in favor of their candidate.

“A small, loud group attempted to hijack the assembly and trample on the rights of those who took time out of their busy lives to participate in the political process,” Stroud said in a statement to the Denver Post.

Colorado GOP Executive Director Chuck Poplstein says he “not totally surprised” by the action of Paul supporters who, because of previous elections, are naturally inclined to be suspect of the system.  But, he added, the supporters did eventually behave themselves.

Paul Campaign Chair Jesse Benton calls the allegations against his supporters “silly,” claiming that those who are complaining are frustrated with being out-organized.

“These silly complaints are all spin and whining from supporters of other candidates who are frustrated that Dr. Paul’s supporters have out-organized and out-hustled them,” said Benton in an e-mail.

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