Originally Posted by amistybleu
Maybe you people with this scheme should run it by the campaign.
The campaign could never endorse this, even if it is the best strategy. My opinion for what it is worth is that through these forums the strategy can be encouraged as sound but optional.
Option A is for those who believe the best chance for Ron Paul, president, a greater impact or even some power with his delagates over a undecided nomination and that makes it a must to try and stop McCain winning any states where he will win ALL the delegates, including helping Huckabee win, but in states that it is proportional we go hell for leather.
Option B is for those who equally understandably either believe principle is better than strategy and want to vote for RP regardless of the stragetic consequences OR those who have given up on RP having any chance of president or any impact (i.e. perhaps believing the media that McCain has this wrapped up).
Personally I would much rather McCain not win by 1-3% and instead live with 1-3% less in Virginia for RP. Meanwhile in Maryland where it is proportional apparently post what we can.
In Washington State the Campaign basically did just such a strategic move, one far less important than stopping McCain getting every single delegate in Virgina, when they suggested that RP voters mark undecided (in the interests of gaining more delegates rather than a win in the straw poll with no delegates involved...check the Winning Washington Forum). If even half the undecideds were Ron Paul supporters doing what the Campain asked, which wouldnt be surprising these votes could have put RP in the winners circle. Two for MH and one for RP would have been very nice headlines and a real dampener for McCain's momentum, but Campaign is trying to win delegates and just like the Huckabee campaign, praying McCain does get the delegates to lock this up.
Now being an Aussie I am able to bet on these things and I had RP at 50-1 to win Washington so when I heard about these tactics I went damn, but I understand them and and am not bitter. I just wish Huckabee had of been ahead and not that it meant they could 'claim' a win for McCain.
In war against a bigger opponent it is smart to make any other enemy with mutual interest your friend, and right now we need to be Sun Tzu in our approach to have any chance against McCain and the GOP power elite who have now prematurely annointed him.
McCain is weak, in South Carolina this year for his great trumpeted "triumph" he got like 10% less votes than the "failure" against Bush. RP was always a long shot but we have a great opportunity against a weak opponent, but it is Huckabee who is the key right now. The US didn't like Stalin, but as soon as they became the Hitler's eneny they became our friend and it was the Eastern Front that turned the war and without US help the Eastern front would have fallen. Mike Huckabee might not be everyone's cup of tea, but he is a lot better than Stalin.
I personally feel if McCain loses Virginia he is finished.
Cheers!
