Ron Paul controlará la delegación de Iowa

Des Moines Register:

Ron Paul loyalists were triumphant at the Iowa GOP convention Saturday, overcoming an attempt to knock well-organized members of the “liberty” movement off the national convention rolls.

“The movement has a huge responsibility when it goes to Tampa to show Iowa we’re a real movement and we’re not there to be rabble-rousers,” said Dubuque Republican Dave Cushman, a liberty activist and new GOP state central committee member.
After a tug-of-war marked by bouts of angry shouting, Iowa Republicans elected 25 delegates to send to the national convention in Florida in late August.

By far, the majority will be Paul supporters — much to the disappointment of some Iowa Republicans who wanted to send a more mixed “unity” delegation to vote for all-but-certain nominee Mitt Romney.

Cushman said he doesn’t anticipate any attempt to nominate Paul as president instead of Romney — members of the liberty movement simply want to espouse Paul’s message.

“The goal is not to embarrass the party,” he said. “The goal is to make the party stronger and broaden the base, and walk the Republican talk.”

Delegates at the state convention Saturday voted 794 to 689 to approve the official, Paul-heavy at-large slate. And Friday night, 11 of the 12 district delegates picked were listed on little slips of paper circulated by members of the Paul movement.

Iowa Republicans will send a total of 28 delegates — 12 elected from the districts; 13 at-large delegates; GOP state party chairman A.J. Spiker, who was vice chairman of Paul’s Iowa campaign; and the two national committee members, Steve Scheffler and Kim Lehman. All are unbound, meaning they’re free to vote how they choose at the national convention.