OK.. So Here's The Scenario....

[JPFromTally]

Ron Paul does very well in the Primaries (averaging 10-20% depending on the state) but does not get the Republican nomination.

Does he...

A) Change his party affiliation to Libertarian and run as a third party candidate?
B) Change to Independent and run?
C) Drop out of the race entirely, write a book and go on tour.

This is why I really wish that Dr. Paul was 10 years younger. I truly believe that if RP doesn't make it to the "finals" then Hillary will most probably be our next president. If Dr. Paul was 62 he could definetely run again with a lot more support in 4 years.

However, it's tough to seem running as a 76 year old.

Thoughts?

J.P.

P.S. I'm not trying to be a defeatist. Nothing would make he happier than seeing RP go head to head with Hitlarie. But just thinking of alternate scenarios.

[Johnnybags]

its too impossible to get ballot access unless you are a billionaire with an army of lawyers. The constitution party and liberterians could draft him and work together for nationwide ballot access, but he has not expressed a desire to run as that. It is possible with 15 to 20 percent support and a summit between the parties but this road at this oint is by far the best. If a bloomberg or type goes independent I think he should go as a liberterian/constitution ticket and could squeak by.

[1000-points-of-fright]

Write-in candidate!

[NCGOPer_for_Paul]

Well, if he gets about 10-20% of the primary vote, he should stay in the race all the way to the convention. That way, he has about 400 delegates there that can make some noise within the GOP on platform, party rules, etc.

He probably can't get on every state's ballot as a Libertarian, and getting on the ballot as a defeated Republican as an independent doesn't work in a lot of places.

Staying in the race and influencing party politics is the way to do it.

Reagan lost the primaries in '76 and was elected in '80. Granted Dr. Paul probably won't run for 2012, the groundswell of true conservatism that the campaign for '08 brought, coupled with a disasterous socialist left turn by a Clinton administration, a new Constitutionalist candidate will emerge. I am sure the GOP will have an internal fight and the neo-cons will lose.

There will be plenty of candidates in '08 and '10 for Congress as well.

[Duckman]

I'm still hopeful RP will win, but if he doesn't, I think he might want to consider joining the Libertarian or Constitution party tickets as a VP and encourage all RP supports to vote for that ticket.

[LibertyBelle]

If RP wins this election, would he not run for a second term at 76? I would think so, and he is a very healthy and sharp man.

RP already said he wouldn't run under another party or independent, he hasn't been a flip-flopper thus far, don't think he would start being one.

[MozoVote]

Come on, people. Winning a few planks at the convention, which can easily be discarded and forgotten, is not much of a goal.

The real goal is to show the party establishment that the natives have their pitchforks out. Change direction, nominate Paul, or lose BIG as those votes stay home.

[Bradley in DC]

We're working our butts off to get Dr. Paul the nomination, let's stay focused.

[LibertyEagle]

Thank you, Bradley. It is way too early for anyone to be talking about giving up or taking table scraps.

[markpa]

I think he will win the nomination and the Presidency. With the vote being split by 3 or 4 neo-cons and the fanatical base that Dr. Paul has I truly believe he will win the nomination. As far as the Presidential race goes there is a built in NO vote for a lot of people when it comes to Hillary. Add the anti-hillary vote to the independant vote and we have our victory. Remember Hillary voted for the war and still wants to nuke Iran. Alot of Dems might even vote for Ron Paul.:D

[Razmear]

Ron Paul will win the nomination.
If you think that he will not, then ask yourself what you can do to ensure that he does.
Visualize Ron Paul being sworn in on January 20, 2008, knowing that he will uphold the Constitution, unlike so many before him.