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Not quite a walkover for McCain

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor April 23, 2008 11:07 AM

While nearly all the attention focused on the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, the results on the Republican side turned out to be somewhat curious.

John McCain is the presumptive GOP nominee, but he didn't quite have a walkover. The Arizona senator drew only 73 percent of the nearly 805,000 votes cast, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who is still in the race but campaigning as actively, won 16 percent. And Mike Huckabee, who withdrew weeks ago and has since signed up with a talent agent in Hollywood, won 11 percent.

McCain has been assiduously been trying to unite the Republican Party behind him as the Democrats continue to fight over their nomination, but skeptics might see some cause for concern.

Paul plans to go to the Republican national convention in early September to further his message.

“Americans are hungry for leadership that will protect the traditions that made our country so great,” Paul campaign spokesman Jesse Benton said in a statement today. “Dr. Paul’s grassroots supporters in Pennsylvania and across the country are doing a tremendous job spreading our message, winning votes and laying a strong foundation for the future.”

46 comments so far...
  1. Good to see people continuing to back Dr. Paul. This is also a clear message to the GOP that many of us will NOT hold our noses and vote for McCain.

    Posted by jeff April 23, 08 11:33 AM
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  1. The Revolution is real!!!

    Posted by Lyle April 23, 08 11:54 AM
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  1. 130,000 baby!!!

    Posted by Unshackle April 23, 08 11:55 AM
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  1. The real news of the Pennsylvania election is that well over 200,000 Republicans went to the trouble to vote against John McCain after he had already been declared the winner by the media and the Republican Party hierarchy. Presumably in such a scenario most people wouldn't even bother going to the polls. What this tells us is, there is indeed a revolution, or at least a civil war, going on within the Republican party. And where is the coverage and analysis?

    Posted by Stephen Bone April 23, 08 12:12 PM
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  1. Ron Paul supporters want fundamental change in this country. We are here to stay. We will take our country back!

    Posted by akk April 23, 08 12:17 PM
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  1. I absolutely refuse to vote for any of the three Democratic Senators running for President. They all support amnesty for illegal immigrants, unconstitutional wars, continued maintenance of over 700 military bases in 130 foreign countries, national ID cards, the North American Union, loss of our national sovereignty thru the United Nations, vast restrictions on health freedom, and a Department of Defense which cannot account for over 25% of their budget. Basically, they have the same disrespect for the United States Constitution as President Bush, who referred to it as "just a g-d piece of paper." I will vote for Dr. Ron Paul if he receives the Republican nomination for President. Otherwise, I will write in his name on the ballot. He is the only current candidate who has the integrity to be President of the United States.

    Posted by Ron April 23, 08 12:32 PM
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  1. Good for Pennsylvania. I think the Dems need to help keep Pauls message alive. It shows big weakness in McCain that 25% of Republicans voted for someone else and 10% turned Dem to vote.
    Take notice Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota will go for Dr. Paul. People who actually hear his message are moved. He has ideas other than more war and more spending.

    Posted by TJ April 23, 08 12:57 PM
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  1. Dr. Paul has integrity that many people don't even recognize any more. He walks the talk and no politician has been able to do that. McCain will keep us in war. How can anyone stand that? Dr. Paul is an individualist who would go after the perpetrators of crime fast and hard and have it over. Dr. Paul will keep us out of a nuclear situation. Bush and McCain and Hillary are pulling us into it as fast as they can. Dr. Paul has a huge mess to clean up-economy, (Monsanto) crops, soldiers in 130 countries, jobs overseas, he'll get rid of income tax, get rid of IRS, the Federal Reserve, get us out of the corrupt UN, save us from the Trilateral Corridor. This country should be stampeding the polls to vote for Dr. Paul. We cannot let him quit until people understand. The MSM has people in a headlock. We must keep fighting the MSM. The GOP needs to quit trying to push us out the door. We have every right to be in the GOP.

    Posted by Charlotte April 23, 08 01:25 PM
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  1. civil war in the republican party? hardly. This seems to happen every election and is nothing worthy of being news. The real news is republicans being sent to cause further chaos between billary and osama

    Posted by Tony April 23, 08 01:26 PM
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  1. Go Ronnie Go.

    Show the GOP who the big boss really is ...


    Seems the sheeple are waking up, thank heavens for that. Makes me look all the more forward to the next few primaries !!!!!

    Posted by Francesco April 23, 08 02:24 PM
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  1. Ron Paul - if I have to write in his name.

    The media said Paul withdrew falsely and never correected itself.

    And the media is a big part of why America is getting flushed down the toilet with politics as usual puppets like Obama, Clinton, and McCain.

    The US needs real change and that can come through Ron Paul.

    Posted by JS Moore April 23, 08 02:41 PM
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  1. Great turnout for Ron Paul....
    Let's let the GOP we are tired of the SOS....

    Posted by Rich Strickler April 23, 08 03:07 PM
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  1. Only 18% of registered Republicans in Pennsylvania voted fro McCain.

    Posted by Amy Miller April 23, 08 03:10 PM
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  1. I can only hope America wakes up before it is too late and we have no more individual freedoms to defend. It appears that at least some citizens are catching on to our government of the people by big business for the rich. Keep up the good work Ron Paul supporters! The Constitution deserves your efforts and so does Ron Paul. In fact, he is the only politician in this election who is worthy of America's trust.
    Its time to end this imperial presidency and all the horrific damage it has done for our country's world image. The record voter turnouts for both parties clearly show people want change from the current neocon "Bushism". The Republican party lost lots of seats in Congress as a result of this administration's disregard for human dignity and our traditional values. McCain will just perpetuate more "Bushism". The current administration has become Big Brother with no geographic allegiance, talking through a puppet media, intent on manipulating public opinion for the purpose of perpetuating the corporatocracy's profiteering
    agenda. I am glad to see people are not tolerating it.
    I will vote for Ron Paul in November, even if I have to write him in because he is the one candidate who will bring real change for the betterment of America.

    Posted by Paula Anderson April 23, 08 03:32 PM
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  1. Ron Paul is a REAL republican.

    Posted by Jen April 23, 08 04:07 PM
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  1. I'd write him in the ballot too, but how does that work with electronic reading machines?

    Posted by Heather April 23, 08 04:36 PM
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  1. Thanks for covering this news story, Foon Rhee.

    Posted by Jacquie April 23, 08 04:45 PM
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  1. Ron Paul is the honest candidate waiting to serve this country and bring about what is needed at this critical time. The media tried to rule this election and performed an historical 'black out' re: Ron Paul. The Revolution stands strong and WILL succeed in the future.

    Posted by HS April 23, 08 04:52 PM
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  1. John McCain is a CHUMP!

    RON PAUL 08!

    Posted by tb April 23, 08 05:04 PM
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  1. So, how many people were lead here by the Daily Dose? And Heather, demand a paper ballot, leave a paper trail. Its the only way to get honest results in this election

    Posted by Bo April 23, 08 05:20 PM
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  1. Paid your taxes? Corporate Candidates McCain, Obama and The Clintons thank you kindly. They will change nothing.

    Massachusetts Ron Paul supporters stand for limited federal government (no federal income tax), an end to private bank manipulation of interest rates and lending (no FED), the end to U.S. imperialism (no non-defensive wars), the return of power to ...We The People! It's the Constitution.

    Imagine the only taxes you paid were local, where you actually have some say in what your taxes are and how the money will be spent by the government...you!

    You have to budget your household, you can also budget your government. Insist on it. Vote only for candidates who will back you up. Watch for Ron Paul Republicans.

    Posted by SN April 23, 08 05:28 PM
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  1. Ron Paul is my Republican Nominee. Period. McCain is merely a continuation of Bush. I cannot vote for him. As a US Air Force, 14 year veteran, I must vote for the candidate who actually abides by the constitution. Ron Paul.

    Posted by Eric Nordstrom April 23, 08 06:37 PM
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  1. John McCain is a Socialist Federalist.

    Ron Paul is a real Republican in the tradition of the Republican Party that Thomas Jefferson was associated with.

    Posted by Chewbacca April 23, 08 06:40 PM
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  1. Thank you Boston Globe for the article, now keep it up. End the MSM bias against this candidate.

    Penn has spoken, Ron Paul is on the rise. He will not go away. His supporters continue to grow. He is the only hope for American. The only candidate with common sense, honesty, integrity and not in the good old boy network.

    Internationally he is very well respected, look at all the blogs, he has supporters in
    every country. Wake up America...the rest of the world knows a winner when they see one. We are supposed to be the champion of liberty....the present government has lost its way years ago.

    VOTE RON PAUL, do the research, get his most recent book: The revolution: a manifesto. We wouldn't need a revolution if the constitution had not been dethroned by corrupt govenment.

    www.ronpaul2008.com, watch the youtube videos. you will never turn back.

    Posted by oldnorthchurch April 23, 08 07:48 PM
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  1. I support Ron Paul but I wish he would have gotten enough delegates to win the nomination :(

    Posted by Wendy April 23, 08 07:54 PM
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  1. As a Democrat I think McCain has some really great ideas! We need to tax corporations to fund a UN Global Warming Fund. We need to give illegals Amnesty so they can hold their heads high when signing up for all of our generous social services. We should be proud to join with Mexico and Canada under a new ruling elite and get rid of our outdated Constitution, this joining will raise their standard of living as we meet in the middle. We need to give up some soveriegnty to global governmental bodies who know better than us common folk of how to run things. Inflation is a good thing and we should not fear it as McCain prints up money to fight endless wars around the world. McCain will also work toward eliminating guns, which will lessing crime once they are all taken away. SO GO MCCAIN in '08!

    Posted by Deet April 23, 08 07:55 PM
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  1. RON PAUL SAYS IT ALL!

    OUR VOTES IN NOVEMBER. YOU BETCHA!

    COME ON, BRAIN-WASHING MEDIA MONEY FROM NEW YORK.

    BAIT US SOME MORE.

    YOU ARE SCARED SHITLESS.

    Posted by ART DEKKO April 23, 08 08:05 PM
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  1. "let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it's realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy." "Let it not be said that we did nothing."
    ~Ron Paul~
    Thank You 128,000 fellow Pennsylvainans and Patriots for doing something..

    Posted by Jody April 23, 08 08:46 PM
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  1. Everyone who reads this post, go out and buy Dr. Paul's new book. We must continue to fight back...take over your local GOP by simply showing up the meetings and finding a way in the seats, chairman etc!!

    Posted by Steve April 23, 08 08:52 PM
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  1. John McCain -- hundreds of millions in free advertising by the media
    Ron Paul -- 0 in free advertising by the media

    Voter fraud in favor of McCain (come on, almost exactly 16% at every report of vote count)

    John McCain -- 73% of the vote
    Ron Paul -- 16% of the vote

    We're gaining. Hope for America

    Posted by Dave April 23, 08 09:39 PM
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  1. I am a registered Independent and By God, I will definitely vote for and write in if need be for Congressman Paul.
    I have not decided what is worse; the main stream media for refusing to speak of him, or the other 3 canidates.
    I believe in the Constitution, not Party politics.
    AND definitely not; McCan't, OBama, or Clinton

    Paul '08
    Liberty Exsists

    Posted by Jeff April 23, 08 10:51 PM
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  1. Right on Ron Paul supporters. We will take back our country. It's time to defend our liberties - R3VOLution!

    Posted by Sab April 23, 08 11:39 PM
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  1. Read Ron Paul's new book. Revolution: A Manifesto. If you don't know much about Ron Paul or even don't agree with him, I couldn't recommend a better book. I sincerely believe the book to be so good that even people who don't agree with Ron Paul will enjoy the book.

    Posted by Andy White April 24, 08 01:45 AM
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  1. McCain Obama and Clinton vote for unbalanced budgets and vote against tax cuts, so they are liberal Democrats.

    Ron Paul is the real conservative Republican. McCain is a liberal gun-grabbing Democrat in disguise.

    Posted by Samuel April 24, 08 01:58 AM
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  1. Americans really need to wake up and realize whats going on in this country. We are going down the toilet ,FAST !!! Turn off American idol and find out whats really going on. Our freedom is slowly being taken away. We are in a senseless war we can't afford. Our dollar is barely worth the paper its printed on. People are going broke just putting gas in their cars. WAKE UP AND DO SOMETHING !!!!!!!!!!!


    RON PAUL 2008 !!!!!!!!

    Posted by Allen G Marks April 24, 08 08:21 AM
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  1. I am an Afro-Hispanic immigrant Ron Paul supporter from the West Indies. Us Ronulans will under no circumstance be voting for an anti-American liberal democrat like Amnesty McCain. Get that through your heads now so you won't be surprised in November when Amnesty McCain gets KO'd. The neo-colonialist global welfarists who call themselves republicans really dropped the ball on this one....they have caused Obama to win by not voting for a true conservative in the primaries. Pat yourselves on the back for failing to ignore the liberal media mantras and handing this thing to the socialists. Hopefully God can work a miracle and get Ron Paul into the White House.Everytime I hear the anti-American global welfarists like Hannity bash him and his ideas it reminds me and strengthens my view that Paul's the only man in the room who has a clue.Funny how that works. Ron Paul write-in in November to avoid wasting my vote. Or if he endorses Bob Barr, Barr will get my vote.

    Posted by Red Leader April 24, 08 10:22 AM
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  1. McCain promises a continuation of war, borrowing, dollar depreciation, food inflation, and 'socialism for the rich' type bailouts at the taxpayers expense. McCain is selling his suitability as President on the basis of what was inflicted upon him in Vietnam forty years ago !!!! This is complete nonsense. It is even more ridiculous than voting for a candidate because her husband was President, or voting for a candidate because of he is big on 'hope' !! McCain has full media backing, across the political spectrum. McCain also has the backing of all the candidates that pulled out of the race, and of the current Administration. McCain is the candidate of choice for Americans who beleive that heaven is sitting on a soft sofa, with popcorn, watching a Hollywood war film, with a remote control in their paw. McCain represents what America has unwittingly become. With his fling with a woman half his age, his pointless militarism, his inability to listen to people of opinions different to his own, his failure to tolerate criticism, his sloppiness, his failure to grasp the essential facts, and his avoidance of any issue head on. For McCain, the answer to everything is heroism, not analysis or even debate. McCain's America will be as intolerant as any we have ever known. The biggest fans of McCain are the Democrats. Democrats want McCain, not Ron Paul or Romney or even minority interests like Huckabee !!

    But the people (for whom democracy is supposed to be intended) seem to be sneaking along and going against the grain, no matter how much propaganda is issued in their direction. Ron Paul represents a different America. Ron Paul represents an America of hard work, honesty, civility, respectfulness, equality amongst all men, morality and living within one's means. Ron Paul represents the idea that the citizen should organize his life by simple principle,and not according to their 'marketing buyer behavoiur group'. Ron Paul is making the call for greater simplification of the American system of governance.

    In effect, Ron Paul is America's chance to have a Gorbachev. Because with record debts, a serious decline in manufacturing output, rising inflation, serious societal problems, and countless military overspends, America needs to become far more efficient and far better organized than at present. In essence Ron Paul is asking Americans to roll back the clock on big government, and to start everything on the basis of how citizens should behave both at home and abroad.

    A very revolutionary way to analyze the world. But then, this is exactly what happened in 1776. Maybe it is long overdue and it is not that difficult really ??

    Posted by Deco April 24, 08 11:02 AM
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  1. We love our country, not the corrupt GOP. Give me Ron Paul or give me death. McCain won't get my vote - over my dead body. McCain-Feingold... enough said.

    Posted by Albert Meyer April 24, 08 11:21 AM
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  1. Ron Paul has given Americans the rare opportunity of voting for an honest (and intelligent) man for president. His prescription for saving America involves fidelity to the document given us by the honest and intelligent men who founded the country. It's encouraging that Dr. Paul has inspired and motivated so many people - hopefully in time a majority will come to realize that the cure for what ails us is written in the Constitution and strict adherence to it.

    Posted by A. Halsey April 24, 08 12:58 PM
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  1. Ron Paul is a bad joke, only exceeded by the horror of a candidate like Obama. Misguided fools may think that a libertarian or a Marxist is fit to run for the highest office of the land - I don't!

    Posted by FRS April 24, 08 02:07 PM
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  1. This is not a vote against McCain. They all know he will be the nominee. Regarding Paul, his people want McCain to adopt his policies. Regarding Huckabee, those people want McCain to choose him for VP if he wants their vote.

    If he is strong enough to stand up to the RNC, he will. If he does, he has a chance to be elected. If he doesn't, he has no chance.

    Posted by DavidE7 April 24, 08 04:23 PM
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  1. I believe alot of people misunderstand why John Mc Cain has repudiated the endless showing of the Reverand Wright video. The reason he has done this is not to give the appearance of moral correctness, but is to reject the idea that all things are permitted in running for the office of the President of the United States.

    The last time I saw John was the day he was launched off the America to provide close ground support fot our troops in Vietnam. He hasn't changed much.

    Posted by John's Son April 24, 08 04:33 PM
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  1. I find the comment that states that Ron Paul is not fit for being President is a bad joke. The leaders of this country have had a long time to make things right in this country, and have only spent over a hundred years screwing it up.
    Why are people so ignorant that they would actually fail to vote someone in because they are not the norm for this country. I just cannot believe that there are that many Americans out there still willing to give chances to those who harm us.
    Remember, the norm for this country has got us were we are today, and if we vote them in they will be the cause for the crap that will come tomorrow.
    Quit the cycle, use your ears.
    Listen to Ron Paul.
    Give Liberty a chance.

    Thank you

    Posted by Protect Montana April 24, 08 10:48 PM
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  1. Status Quo Republicans need Ron Paul Republicans alot worse than we need them.

    Posted by KOBA April 25, 08 12:59 AM
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  1. r3VOLution continues...

    Posted by Baba Padmanabhan April 25, 08 05:39 PM
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  1. FREEDOM FREEDOM FREDOM BABY RON PAUL IN 08! GET INVOLVED ITS OUR ONLY HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! McCain IS NOT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! RON PAUL IS. SO PLEASE VOTE SMART AND VOTE FOR RON PAUL HOPE FOR AMERICA.

    Posted by Bob James April 26, 08 02:15 PM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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