++ RP NOT DROPPING - UPDATE press report - Benton speaks out... + +

He may as well have said that.

Here is what he said:

“Dropping out is not accurate,”said Jesse Benton, Paul’s presidential campaign spokesman, by phone.

In the same breath, however, Benton said Paul acknowledges he won’t be this country’s next president and that Sen. John McCain secured the party’s nomination.

These were his words. Does that fire you up? Does it make you want to go out there and make Ron Paul the next presidents elect when you got the campaign manager saying he won't be the next president!
Do these people know anything about human nature?

I don't know about Benton, friend or foe?

NO LONGER WORKS FOR THE CAMPAIGN!!!!!!!

I'm going and will be carrying the following sign!

"Make D.C. into prison facility!"

We see this 'Lysa' takes opportunity to snipe Jessie Benton...7 times with 'replies' all the way down this post. Saying it once, not enough?

Hummmm....now I remember why I left the DP---3 weeks ago. Sorry, I checked in.

What a disaster. He should be fired. HE DIDN'T EVEN THINK. He has completely damaged any fundraising efforts that could have come about. Where's DaddyWarBucks when we need him. Maybe he could correct this in a HUGE WAY. Ron Paul Needs Help. NOW

with Benton -- too bad he spoke for Dr. Paul. Who would send money now?????

BY GABE SEMENZA - VICTORIA ADVOCATE
March 07, 2008 - 11:00 p.m.

Ron Paul says not so fast.

Despite reports indicating otherwise, the Texas Republican is not ending his long-shot campaign for presidency, Paul’s top spokesman said Friday.

“Dropping out is not accurate,”said Jesse Benton, Paul’s presidential campaign spokesman, by phone.

In the same breath, however, Benton said Paul acknowledges he won’t be this country’s next president and that Sen. John McCain secured the party’s nomination.

Paul plans to use his leftover campaign money, grassroots popularity and energetic support to shape the national debate and further spread his message, Benton said.

On Tuesday, Paul handily lost the Victoria County and Texas Republican presidential primaries to McCain, an Arizona senator.

Two days later, Paul addressed supporters during a 71/2-minute video message posted to his presidential campaign Web site.

During his online talk, Paul thanked supporters, said their efforts led to many victories and that his campaign is winding down.

Almost immediately, reports surfaced that Paul is bowing out of the presidential race.

That’s not the case, Benton said.

“We’re winding down the campaign, but he’s still very encouraging of grassroots support around the country in moving forward,” Benton said. “The presidential campaign will be the vehicle.”

Toni Marek, a 29-year-old Victoria stay-at-home mom, is a vocal grassroots Paul supporter.

“It’s not over by a long shot,”Marek said Friday. “His campaign will be used as a vehicle to spread his message even further – less government, less taxes and more freedoms for us.”

Marek blames the media for burying Paul’s message and for skewing what she called campaign victories and vast support.

“It’s upsetting the way the media is portraying his victories and the number of people listening to what he has to say,” she said. “It’s upsetting to see it ignored by the media.”

Paul garnered 5 percent of the Texas vote on Tuesday. He lost to McCain, who garnered 51 percent of the vote.

Still, Marek said Paul’s message is catching on.

“His message is logical,” she said. “The government is being very badly run.”

Mary Ann Wyatt, the county Republican Party chairwoman, said Paul’s continued campaign could benefit her party if voters are drawn to the right.

She declined to say whether she agrees with his decision to stay in the race.

“I think that’s his business, to be real honest,” Wyatt said.

Paul was unavailable for comment on Friday.

Benton, however, said Paul will use leftover presidential campaign funds to help spread his message, but it’s undetermined how all the money will be spent.

Some of the money will pay for Paul’s campaign travel, full-time campaign staff and for political action committees.

“He’s got his Liberty PAC, a political action committee established for Constitution-minded candidates, and he could give money to Republican candidates,” Benton said. “There are a lot of options. Of course, we’re still spending money to send him around the country.”

Steve Weissman, a policy director for the Campaign Finance Institute in Washington, D.C., said by phone that Paul has the legal right to continue to do what he’s doing.

“He can use the money to campaign for office and give the money to party committees,” Weissman said. “He can make transfers without limitation to national, state and local political parties and charitable organizations.”

As an example, he said, “Hillary Clinton used her senatorial money for her presidential campaign.”

Candidates, however, cannot use political contributions for personal use, he said

“You can’t use it for things like country club memberships, health club dues and mortgages – that sort of thing,” Weisman said.

Benton, meanwhile, said it’s unlikely Paul will endorse McCain.

And this continued campaign is not a sign Paul will run for president again in four years, Benton said.

“It’s awfully tough to think he’ll do that. He was reluctant to do it this time around,” Benton said. “At this point in his life, he’s more interested in educating people and being a standard bearer of the message.”

During the campaign – which lifted Paul from relative national obscurity to the front pages and TV spotlight – the congressman learned a lot, his spokesman said.

“We learned that a lot of Americans out there want to return to our Constitution,” he said. “We also learned that the freedom message is very popular and can spread.”

Gabe Semenza is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com.

I talked to Jesse Benton today and he told me all he said is what Ron Paul said and that was the campaign is winding down. Do not listen to the media, they will always spin it.
Peace,Robert

Ron should run independent.

Otherwise his run for president is plainly over.

He's saying he's "winding down his campaign" but "it's not over." This is crap. Be clear. Don't say you are running for president unless you are seriously running. Not this "keep the debate going" bullshit.