Johnnybags
09-22-2007, 07:01 AM
ublished September 22, 2007
[ From Lansing State Journal ]
Republicans descend on Mackinac Island
MACKINAC ISLAND - Michigan Republicans convened Friday on Mackinac Island amidst a sea of Ron Paul supporters. Paul, a Texas congressman and one of seven GOP presidential hopefuls attending the biennial state Republican leadership conference, unexpectedly recruited supporters who lined the docks at the Lake Huron island's harbor and swarmed the Grand Hotel.
The large following in Mackinac is especially sweet for Paul because state GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis tried to get him removed from televised debates because of views that run counter to most Republicans. "This will be a test for us," Paul said earlier Friday in an interview with the Detroit Free Press editorial board.
In contrast, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani had fewer visible supporters at the conference, but created a buzz merely by getting on one of the ferries to the island in mid-afternoon.
GOP meets on island
Hopefuls show star power as they seek edge
September 22, 2007
BY DAWSON BELL
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
MACKINAC ISLAND -- Michigan's most famous island resort was swarming with Republican celebrities Friday as the biennial state party convention played host to its leading presidential candidates, all seeking an edge with the locals for the state's Jan. 15 convention.
All the headliners in the field -- former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (along with one famous noncandidate, former Speaker Newt Gingrich) -- are scheduled to appear and were backed by squads of staff and supporters.
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But the most surprising presence for conference-goers arriving on the island was the swarm of supporters of maverick U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning congressman from Texas. Paul, who is almost unknown nationwide and usually polls in the low single digits against his better-known rivals, has become something of an Internet phenom.
Paul's supporters were in evidence Friday, lining the highways to the straits with signs and cheering their hero at the Grand Hotel.
The outpouring seemed to surprise Paul.
"This will be a test for us," Paul said earlier Friday, in an interview with the Free Press editorial board. "We may have a dozen supporters up there; we may have a couple dozen. And they'll all be excited."
The Paul boomlet is likely to die quickly, however, as his supporters depart and the name candidates take the stage.
Giuliani was the featured speaker at dinner Friday.
He had fewer visible supporters at the conference, but created a buzz merely by getting on one of the Starline ferries mid-afternoon. Ferry employees lined up for photographs with him.
During his speech, he reminded Republicans who may not share his liberal social views of his successful record as a mayor and commitment to keeping the United States on the offense in what he called the "Islamic terrorists' war on us."
Giuliani has limited support from prominent Republicans in Michigan, and named a state political director only this week. But he told diners Friday that he is best-suited of all the Republican candidates to make Michigan competitive against the Democrats in 2008, mentioning his archrival New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton repeatedly.
Among those who found Giuliani's pitch convincing was Dan Pero of Laingsburg, a top strategist for former Gov. John Engler in the 1990s. Pero said Giuliani is the only Republican who can mount a truly national campaign.
[ From Lansing State Journal ]
Republicans descend on Mackinac Island
MACKINAC ISLAND - Michigan Republicans convened Friday on Mackinac Island amidst a sea of Ron Paul supporters. Paul, a Texas congressman and one of seven GOP presidential hopefuls attending the biennial state Republican leadership conference, unexpectedly recruited supporters who lined the docks at the Lake Huron island's harbor and swarmed the Grand Hotel.
The large following in Mackinac is especially sweet for Paul because state GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis tried to get him removed from televised debates because of views that run counter to most Republicans. "This will be a test for us," Paul said earlier Friday in an interview with the Detroit Free Press editorial board.
In contrast, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani had fewer visible supporters at the conference, but created a buzz merely by getting on one of the ferries to the island in mid-afternoon.
GOP meets on island
Hopefuls show star power as they seek edge
September 22, 2007
BY DAWSON BELL
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
MACKINAC ISLAND -- Michigan's most famous island resort was swarming with Republican celebrities Friday as the biennial state party convention played host to its leading presidential candidates, all seeking an edge with the locals for the state's Jan. 15 convention.
All the headliners in the field -- former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (along with one famous noncandidate, former Speaker Newt Gingrich) -- are scheduled to appear and were backed by squads of staff and supporters.
Advertisement
But the most surprising presence for conference-goers arriving on the island was the swarm of supporters of maverick U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning congressman from Texas. Paul, who is almost unknown nationwide and usually polls in the low single digits against his better-known rivals, has become something of an Internet phenom.
Paul's supporters were in evidence Friday, lining the highways to the straits with signs and cheering their hero at the Grand Hotel.
The outpouring seemed to surprise Paul.
"This will be a test for us," Paul said earlier Friday, in an interview with the Free Press editorial board. "We may have a dozen supporters up there; we may have a couple dozen. And they'll all be excited."
The Paul boomlet is likely to die quickly, however, as his supporters depart and the name candidates take the stage.
Giuliani was the featured speaker at dinner Friday.
He had fewer visible supporters at the conference, but created a buzz merely by getting on one of the Starline ferries mid-afternoon. Ferry employees lined up for photographs with him.
During his speech, he reminded Republicans who may not share his liberal social views of his successful record as a mayor and commitment to keeping the United States on the offense in what he called the "Islamic terrorists' war on us."
Giuliani has limited support from prominent Republicans in Michigan, and named a state political director only this week. But he told diners Friday that he is best-suited of all the Republican candidates to make Michigan competitive against the Democrats in 2008, mentioning his archrival New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton repeatedly.
Among those who found Giuliani's pitch convincing was Dan Pero of Laingsburg, a top strategist for former Gov. John Engler in the 1990s. Pero said Giuliani is the only Republican who can mount a truly national campaign.