Long shots chase maverick delegates
Residents show dedication, commitment to Paul, Hunter, Thompson, even if they're last in polls.



JACKSON -- Robert Douglass, a software consultant working in Germany, returned home Monday to Michigan, where he'll proudly cast his absentee ballot for Ron Paul in the state's Jan. 15 presidential primary.

His homecoming was celebrated by several dozen sign-carrying Paul supporters, rallying for the Texas congressman in downtown Jackson on Monday.

Such is the dedication of Michiganians committed to candidates Paul, Duncan Hunter or Fred Thompson -- all of whom polls show in the bottom half of the GOP field in Michigan.



Each believes he has a message America needs to hear.

Paul's "is ringing true and loud across the world," Douglass, 35, said of the physician-U.S. congressman -- the only anti-war Republican in the race. "It's strong in Germany, strong in France. Before I came back, I talked to an Englishman who said he's been waiting decades for a candidate like Ron Paul in his own country."

Paul's Calhoun County coordinator, Craig Harris, said the campaign "isn't business or politics for us. It's our future. "We've had it with the Federal Reserve expanding the money supply beyond reason, until we've lost most of the value of our money."

Onsted residents Darryl and Rose Ramsey support Paul because they don't want their three sons to end up fighting in Iraq.

"My main reason for Ron Paul was that I saw him as viable candidate to get us out of the war," said Rose Ramsey, 48.

Paul, Hunter and Thompson -- plus campaign dropouts Tom Tancredo and Sam Brownback -- will be on Michigan's GOP ballot. Their lofty goal: to pick off some Michigan delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Thompson won three delegates in Wyoming on Saturday, and Roger Moiles, a political science professor at Grand Valley State University, said Thompson might have been a stronger candidate if he'd gotten into the fray earlier.

"His demeanor doesn't engender enthusiasm, either," said Moiles. "The others are out there showing a lot more passion."

"A lot of these guys knew they weren't going to win," said Lansing-based pollster Ed Sarpolus. "You get addicted to this. You've got people rallying for you, applauding you and listening to your ideas."

Sarpolus characterized Paul as "the Ralph Nader of this election" -- beneficiary of a cult following but needing some special circumstances to develop a broad voter appeal.

"Part of his base is young voters, but not the type who will come out and vote the way young voters did for Obama in Iowa," Sarpolus said.

Hunter, despite a distinguished career and a Bronze Star from service in Vietnam, "is lost in the woods," he added.

Here's a look at the three candidates facing long odds in Michigan Jan. 15:

• Hunter, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee in the U.S. House and a strong supporter of the Iraq war, says U.S. troops are making progress and shouldn't be withdrawn. He also says Iran's support of Iraqi insurgents warrants military action.

He's a sponsor of the Real ID Act -- forcing states to adopt more-stringent drivers license requirements -- and the fence along the Mexican border. Hunter says illegal immigration is the top homeland security issue.

• Paul is the only GOP candidate to oppose the Iraq war. He also opposes military action against Iran, abortion, the Real ID act, and says government has become too intrusive in people's lives.

• Thompson, as a senator, voted in 2002 to authorize the war in Iraq. He supports President Bush's troop surge strategy and says the world has to prevent Iran from continuing its nuclear ambitions or Israel will take action.

He calls Islamic terrorists an urgent threat, and says the U.S. should expand military and intelligence agencies to fight it. He would "do whatever is necessary" to gain intelligence that could save American lives.

Thompson says the Supreme Court ruling to permit abortion "is bad law and bad medical science," is skeptical that humans cause global warming, and advocates immigration reform.

Leonard and Linda Swisher of River Rouge, both retirees, are supporting Thompson.

"I really have a lot of respect and admiration for him," said Linda Swisher, 68, a retired teacher. "He gives me the feeling he's giving the absolute truth, and I believe it."

Leonard Swisher, 75, calls Thompson "believable."

Wes Smith, head of a family-owned metal stamping company in Plymouth, likes Hunter. He wants a president who will take a tough stand against unfair trade practices, by countries such as China. He wants a leader who will do something to end the erosion of middle-class jobs.

"He realizes China is using its huge trade surplus to do all kinds of bad things -- like build up its military strength like crazy," said Smith, 52, who lives in Novi.

"I realize Duncan Hunter is, at best, a long shot. I just hope he can stay (in the race) long enough to make sure the demise of our manufacturing is talked about."

http://www.detnews.com




This ALIPAC member has posted this entity be it editorial opinion, news article, column, or web creation as information for the General Population (public) only. It is not intended as an endorsement for this candidate by this poster. Its use here has not been anticipated to be used as, or used to discredit any candidate mentioned herewith.