Ron Paul Not Likely to Win, Not Likely to Quit

Yoon S. Byun/The Boston Globe via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Ron Paul has acknowledged for the first time that he is unlikely to win the Republican nomination, but plans to remain active at state GOP conventions.

The announcement follows Paul’s decision on Monday to stop campaigning in future primaries.

Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton told reporters on a conference call Tuesday, “Gov. Romney has what is very likely an insurmountable delegate lead.” He also conceded, “We’re very unlikely to block that nomination.”

The campaign was hoping, until recently, for a brokered convention in which delegates bound to Romney on the first ballot could vote for the libertarian-leaning congressman on the second.

“Unfortunately, other candidates were not able to maintain their strength and only Gov. Romney remained,” Benton said.

Despite not winning a single state this election, the campaign insists that it won a plurality of delegates from Maine and sees “several other state victories on the horizon,” including Minnesota.

Paul will be heading to Minnesota this Friday to speak at the state GOP convention there and will also speak at the Texas GOP Convention on June 7 and the upcoming GOP conventions in Washington State and Iowa.

Benton hopes that Paul can use his delegate muscle to influence the party platform at the upcoming Republican national convention in Tampa.

Benton has been in discussion with Romney’s campaign over incorporating Paul’s priorities — including prohibiting indefinite detention for American citizens, protecting Internet freedom and limiting the power of the Federal Reserve — into the GOP platform.

Paul still hasn’t said whether he intends to support Romney for president, citing concerns over the former governor’s position on the Federal Reserve and about his commitment to cutting spending.

Asked whether Paul will endorse Romney, Benton said, “I do not believe that is likely,” but added, “I would never say never.”

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