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The Great Ron Paul Caucus Strategy Fizzles into Failure—David Frum

The Man Who Would Be Kingmaker
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Earlier this month, I reported that Ron Paul's supporters were trying to stack each state's slate of RNC delegates in their favor.

A month later, there's mounting evidence nationwide that their struggle to infiltrate the GOP through the alternate route is coming up short.

ABC's Jason Volack describes how Ron Paul's delegate strategy unfolded in Iowa:

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"In Iowa, the drama is expected to continue at the district conventions in April, but McLaughlin says the strategy of aggressive disruptions so far has not produced any extra delegates for the Texas congressman in his state."

Paul supporters reportedly caused disruptions in at least six Iowa county conventions but gained little from it.

A major scuffle at the St. Charles County convention in Missouri led to two arrests and to the meeting being shut down halfway through. No delegates were chosen.

In Georgia, Paul supporters documented their struggle on video at the Athens-Clarke County GOP convention. The local GOP simply selected its own slate of delegates despite the calls for division from Paul supporters.

The Republican Convention in Denver County, Colorado descended "into madness" after Ron Paul delegates demanded a rule change after the GOP establishment announced its pre-decided list of delegates.

While Paul's campaign can be admired for its attempt to bring in young voters to revitalize a GOP composed primarily of elderly whites, its audacious effort to influence the convention by amassing sympathetic delegates seems stalled at best. On February 23, prior to the county-level meetings to select delegates, the Guardian had speculated that the delegate strategy could be a game-changer:

"While the Republican nomination race is focused on the ongoing battle between frontrunners Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, the Ron Paul campaign is waging an under-the-radar "delegate strategy" that could make the libertarian-leaning Texan the surprise kingmaker of the race."

Though Paul supporters have documented these conventions on YouTube and strictly followed Robert's Rules, a month later, report after report of frustrated parliamentary fiascos betray the the unfortunate truth of a GOP establishment that simply does not care.

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