SharePaul invests in Minn. in search of 1st GOP win
Brian BakstPresidential hopeful Ron Paul made his final appeal for Minnesota Republican caucus votes with drop-ins at two sites where ballots were to be cast Tuesday night.
The 76-year-old Texas congressman invested days of campaigning and money for television ads ahead of caucuses in Minnesota, where he hoped to eke out the first win of his presidential campaign.
In a brief appearance at Coon Rapids Middle School, Paul waded through a crowd to sign autographs, pose for photos and remind people to vote. He declined to make any predictions on the Minnesota outcome before heading to another suburban Minneapolis caucus site.
He planned a caucus-night party outside Minneapolis.
Paul's strategy was to concentrate on caucus states where he could amass national convention delegates even if he didn't win. He hit on anti-war themes and cast himself as the candidate most committed to cutting government spending.
Paul said his candidacy was perfectly built for Minnesota. "They love liberty, they don't like wars and they certainly don't like the Federal Reserve," he said.
One caucus-goer in Coon Rapids, truck driver Rod Garberson, said if Paul isn't the fall nominee the Republican Party won't get his vote.
"I gotta tell ya, this time I'm pretty well stuck on not supporting the party even if it means eight years of Obama and we all stand in bread lines for five hours for a sack of potatoes," Garberson said.
Paul finished fourth in Minnesota four years ago. Mitt Romney won the contest in 2008.