Ron Paul die-hards a force in state GOP

Give Ron Paul supporters credit for tenacity.

John McCain may have a lock on the national Republican presidential nomination, but that hasn't deterred Paul's followers in this state.

They're still turning out in droves to support the Texas congressman's presidential bid, dominating local GOP conventions in places like Spokane and Whatcom counties.

By some estimates, Paul supporters could total up to 40 percent of 1,100 delegates expected at the state GOP convention that starts today in Spokane.

Maureen Moore, Paul's state coordinator in Washington, said they want to send at least some delegates to the national convention to represent the candidate, who technically is still in the race. They'd also like the party to adopt in its platform certain positions supported by Paul, such as repealing the Patriot Act.

But those aren't their only goals.

"I would really like for the rest of the Republicans in Washington state to be able to experience the people who support Ron Paul, and see that they are principled and responsible conservatives — and not kooks," Moore said.

Curt Fackler, chairman of the Spokane County Republican Party, said that's a legitimate goal. "There's a lot to that," Fackler said. "The establishment party thinks they are a bunch of kooks. I don't think they are. There are a lot of good people in that group."

Paul is a former Libertarian presidential nominee who is now running as a Republican. His anti-war, anti-establishment themes, such as repealing the Patriot Act and immediately withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, have clearly struck a chord with some voters in the state.

In Spokane, the vast majority of the 580 delegates who showed up at the county convention were Paul supporters, Fackler said. "I asked how many was this their first convention, and at least 80 percent raised their hand," he said. "As a group, they're conservative. A lot of them are Libertarian."

He's not sure why Paul supporters are still so active, given that McCain already has more than enough delegates to win the national nomination. He has more than 1,500 delegates, compared with 35 for Paul.

"I've asked the people, 'Well, what's your plan after the convention?' " Fackler said. "Their hope was they could get Ron Paul to be a speaker at our convention. That was their game plan."

Moore said Paul will not attend the state convention. He had other commitments.

Rob Chase, a Paul supporter from Liberty Lake, east of Spokane, said he hasn't given up on Paul winning the national party nomination. "I don't think McCain totally has it locked up," Chase said. "He's carrying a lot of baggage and he could still implode."

It's unclear how this will play out. A total of 40 Washington delegates will go to the national GOP convention. The state Republican Party awards delegates through a complex system of caucuses and primaries.

McCain won 16 delegates in the state primary; three delegates went to Mike Huckabee, who has dropped out of the race. Paul received less than 8 percent of the vote in the state primary and no delegates.

An additional 18 delegates are awarded through an arcane process that started with precinct caucuses in February and winds up at the convention this weekend.

Paul got 21 percent of the precinct caucus delegates, but that vote was more of a popularity contest demonstrating the relative strength of the candidates. The end game in which delegates are apportioned happens this weekend at the convention.

In addition to the delegates awarded through the primaries and caucuses, there are three "automatic" delegates — the state party chairman and two national-committee members — who are free to pick the candidate they want. Luke Esser, the state party chair, said the automatic delegates are backing McCain.

"My guess is that, based on what most folks have told me, Senator McCain will get a majority" of the state GOP delegates, Esser said. "My main concern is that they are all Dino Rossi people. Presidential politics will play itself out."

The party is backing Rossi in his second bid for governor against Democrat Christine Gregoire, who narrowly beat him in 2004.

Fackler said he hopes the party embraces Paul's supporters because they represent a significant bloc of voters. "We need them as Republicans to win elections," he said.

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com