Colorado Libertarians Face Presidential Quandary in '08

Dedicated Colorado Libertarians face a presidential quandary in 2008: jump ship to support Republican Congressman Ron Paul, the 1988 Libertarian presidential nominee, in the February caucuses or support the Libertarian presidential nominee who will be chosen in Denver in May.

Paul, a 10-term Texas congressman and anti-war physician, has achieved remarkable progress in the crowded GOP race. By raising more than $7 million since Oct. 1, $4.2 of that in a single day on Nov. 5, Paul has risen from obscurity to a high dollar ranking among the dozen or so Republican candidates, and has begun to break open the media blackout that plagued him at first.

"He is starting to get major press," said Travis Nicks, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Colorado. "But don't be discouraged - his supporters are true Libertarians which will re-register. There will be no hard feelings toward people who choose to change their registration. We are all fighting for liberty in our own way."

The Libertarian Party, according to national party rules, cannot endorse Paul or any other candidate from any other political party, Nicks said.

In Colorado, Libertarians are being encouraged by Paul supporters to register Republican by Dec. 5, the deadline for participation in the GOP's Feb. 5 caucuses. Colorado has returned to a party caucus system culminating in a state convention after flirting briefly several years ago with a primary system.

The Delta County Libertarian Party, led by firebrand Debbie Schum of Cedaredge, is facing dissolution because all but one of its active members defected to the Republican Party to support Paul.

"I have no one from Delta to help as all the active 'doers' have registered Republican to support Ron Paul," Schum said.

Paul was polling at only 5 percent percent on October 12, according to the Gallup Poll. However, like Democrat Howard Dean in 2004, he's all over the Internet. According to CBS News, there are 994 Ron Paul Meetup sites and he has more MySpace, Meetup, YouTube and Facebook supporters than former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former senator-turned-actor Fred Thompson combined.

"Note the comparison to Dean," Nicks said. "I think he will have similar, if not more, success."

Ultimately, Dean lost the 2004 nomination to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry after causing a national stir by raising significant funds via the Internet.

Paul set a single-day record for GOP fundraising on Nov. 5 by raising $4.2 million, virtually all of it from Internet donations. During the third quarter of 2007, Paul reported raising $5 million, 70 percent of it from Internet donations. If debts and expenses are subtracted from money raised, Paul -- with close to $10 million in unspent funds -- has surged ahead of former GOP frontrunner Sen. John McCain and is biting at the heels of Thompson.

Paul's surge can be attributed to the passion of his supporters, such as the Western Slope's Greg Embry.

"We are fast approaching the loss of our sovereignty, economic meltdown and a society out of control," said Embry, who organized a Meetup group for Paul in Grand Junction. "The only way out is the message of freedom, liberty and limited government. I'm tired of the lies coming year after year, and the erosion of our founding documents."

"Note the comparison to Dean," Nicks said. "I think he will have similar, if not more, success."

Ultimately, Dean lost the 2004 Democratic nomination to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry after causing a national stir by raising significant funds via the Internet.

Paul made headlines on election day in 2007 by raising $4.2 million in a single day, virtually all of it from Internet donations. During the third quarter of 2007, Paul reported raising $5 million, 70 percent of it from Internet donations. Paul has set a fundraising goal of $12 million by Dec. 31and is nearing that goal with nearly $10 million in unspent funds. If debts and expenses are subtracted from money raised, Paul has surged ahead of former GOP frontrunner Sen. John McCain and is biting at the heels of Thompson.

Paul's surge can be attributed to the passion of his supporters, such as the Western Slope's Greg Embry.

"We are fast approaching the loss of our sovereignty, economic meltdown and a society out of control," said Embry, who organized a Meetup group for Paul in Grand Junction. "The only way out is the message of freedom, liberty and limited government. I'm tired of the lies coming year after year, and the erosion of our founding documents."

"Note the comparison to Dean," Nicks said. "I think he will have similar, if not more, success."

Ultimately, Dean lost the 2004 Democratic nomination to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry after causing a national stir by raising significant funds via the Internet.

During the third quarter of 2007, Paul reported raising $5 million, 70 percent of it from Internet donations. If debts and expenses are subtracted from money raised, Paul - who has $6 million in unspent funds -- has surged ahead of former GOP frontrunner Sen. John McCain and is biting at the heels of Thompson.

Paul's surge can be attributed to the passion of his supporters, such as the Western Slope's Greg Embry.

"We are fast approaching the loss of our sovereignty, economic meltdown and a society out of control," said Embry, who organized a Meetup group for Paul in Grand Junction. "The only way out is the message of freedom, liberty and limited government. I'm tired of the lies coming year after year, and the erosion of our founding documents."