In the wake of news of Ron Paul “takeovers” at state conventions, Paul campaign manager John Tate blasts out a statement condemning any “hostile takeover” attempts:
Recent reports in The Idaho Statesman misrepresent the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential campaign’s involvement in the Idaho’s Republican precinct captain races that follow Mitt Romney’s first-place showing in the state’s inaugural caucus that took place on March 6th.
The Ron Paul campaign’s delegate-attainment strategy being implemented nationally at party processes that follow so-called ‘beauty contests’ is not, and has never been, meant to somehow rewrite the outcome of past nominating contests.
In Idaho, isolated instances of grassroots activists working toward an ostensible ‘hostile takeover’ of the GOP are not sanctioned by the Ron Paul national campaign.
Therefore, the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential campaign condemns efforts to expand its influence in the Republican Party in Idaho and beyond when these activities are couched as vengeful, underhanded, or markedly distasteful.
Lastly, our campaign does not want its message that Paul activists be civil and operate in accordance with local GOP rules to have a chilling effect. Paul supporters have every right to vociferously and energetically engage their party structures to introduce Dr. Paul’s winning message into existing party organizations.
To a certain extent, this was bound to happen — particularly as the pro-Paul efforts caused a staffer to resign and fundraising money to dry up in Iowa. It’s still unclear whether state-level takeovers will have similar effects elsewhere around the country.