Presidentially speaking, Republicans and independents are up for grabs in the Bay Area, and that's where Libertarian-cum-GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul comes in. If it sounds weird, well, it is. But with his quippy one-liners against the war in Iraq and his non-interventionist foreign policy (not to mention pro-gun rights, anti-abortion stances), Paul disciples in the region are solidifying their ranks via Meetup.com, which clocks nearly 20 different Ron Paul groups in the area.
They're fanning out to scoop up stray votes from disaffected GOPers and other unaffiliated nutcases and rednecks (kidding!) The goal, however unlikely, is to capture some of California's 173 convention delegates in the Feb. 5th primary. A change in party rules has prompted this kind of grassroots campaigning to spawn ever larger organizing pools. The craziest thing, really, is that it might not be so crazy after all. With (historically) less than 50 percent voter turnout, and with a wide open field of lame ass GOP candidates, Paul just might stand a chance.
-- Brian Bernbaum
