Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Nevada Paul supporters try to regroup after defeat

0828_ron_paul_tick_tock

Karoun Demirjian

Nevada delegation chair Wayne Terhune and his daughter, delegation aide Jennifer Terhune scream their objections to the RNC rules on the convention hall floor, Aug. 28, 2012.

Getting Ron Paul on the Ballot

Nevada delegation member Robert Tyree tells reporters how the rules committee made a last minute change that effectively kept Nevada's petition from coming forward, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Launch slideshow »

TAMPA, Fla. — One day after a gut-wrenching slap-down at the Republican National Convention, Ron Paul’s supporters spent Wednesday trying to regroup.

The overriding question for all of them: What now?

And the answer to that question was different from each one who answered it.

From a “mass” walkout when presumed nominee Mitt Romney takes the stage on Thursday to a boycott of the rest of the convention, delegates can’t seem to agree on what their role will be during the final two days.

Nor can they agree about what will happen in November.

“Ron Paul as president was the vehicle for the liberty message,” said David Isbell, a Paul supporter attending the convention as a guest. “Well, that’s over now. Now we need to make the decision of whether the Republican Party plays fairly enough with us, will we support Mitt Romney.”

The consensus from Paul supporters Isbell said he spoke with is no.

“It’s Gary Johnson,” Isbell said of the Libertarian Party candidate.

Not so for Carl Bunce, who co-chaired Paul’s Nevada campaign.

Asked if he will vote for Romney, Bunce said: “More than likely, when it comes down to it, yes.

“If he makes me believe he’ll push that audit of the Fed and other liberty platforms.”

The Nevada delegation also wasn’t unified on whether they would show up to listen to Paul’s son Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky on Wednesday.

“I’m not coming today,” said Nevada Paul delegate Daniel Stakleff. “I’m so disappointed at the plain disregard for the Roberts Rules and corruption from top down of the RNC.

“The more important thing to me is making an actual difference. Listening to a speech doesn’t impress me. There’s YouTube.”

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