by Paul M. Green
Updated and revised 2/8/2008

Romney's withdrawal from the race could be very good for Ron Paul, and presents a unique opportunity to his very organized grassroots supporters. An entire block of conservative voters are now ripe for the picking, as long as the grassroots acts while the news is still fresh. However I wonder if there is more to this move by the Romney campaign than meets the eye. I suspect there was some back-room deal making involved.

As we know, Ron Paul is hoping for a brokered convention, what some view as unlikely with Romney out, and McCain now the frontrunner. A brokered convention is also the last thing the Republican National Committee wants, since they and the media have all but ordained McCain the nominee. That may be why Romney dropped out. He stole a major landslide from McCain on Super Tuesday. Could it be that a deal was brokered between Romney and McCain? With Romney out, McCain and the GOP may be hoping former Romney supporters will go to McCain (in true Sheeple style), just as Rudy Giuliani's did when he dropped out. In exchange, McCain may have assured his new buddy, Mitt, a nice cushy, high ranking position in the McCain Administration.
Of course, I am speculating, but this IS politics.

But, is a brokered convention possible? My opinion is, yes, a brokered convention is possible. Here is why: A candidate must have a certain amount of delegates, a majority in five states I believe, in order to be locked into the GOP nomination. With Huckabee in the race, and Romney, Giuliani, and Thompson out, that leaves many delegates out there. Most, if not all of those delegates are now able to vote for whoever they want, and some might vote for Ron Paul. Then there are the states yet to hold primaries and states that have had primaries/caucuses who still haven't chosen National Delegates. Dr. Paul will surely gain some delegates who were committed to past candidates, and those yet to be elected.
At a brokered convention, a candidate must get 51% or more of the votes to receive the nomination. If that doesn't happen, then serious backroom campaigning goes on, and another vote is held. This continues until a candidate gets 51% or better. So, between McCain, Huckabee, and Ron Paul, it may be possible to prevent John McCain from gaining a majority of delegates in five states.

NTU Report: Other Republicans would increase spending by billions

According to a report released Tuesday by the National Taxpayers Union, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is the only remaining presidential candidate who proposes net spending cuts.

According to the report, Congressman Paul’s proposals would cut government spending by over $150 billion, a conservative estimate of the spending reductions Dr. Paul has proposed. The report concludes that the other remaining Republican candidates, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Mike Huckabee, have proposed spending increases of $19.5 billion, $6.9 billion and $54 billion respectively.

“It should come as no surprise that when you crunch the numbers Ron Paul is the only Republican who would actually shrink the size and cost of the federal government,” said Ron Paul campaign economic advisor Don Luskin. “Romney, McCain and Huckabee don’t hold a candle to Ron Paul – the only true fiscal conservative running for President.”

In ten terms in Congress, Ron Paul has never voted for a tax increase or for an unbalanced budget.