November 30, 2007 - 5:41pm
Ron Paul supporter challenges Ruppersberger
By Editor
Rep. Ron PaulRon Paul supporter Rich Matthews of Orchard Beach filed his certificate of candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District today, challenging three-term Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger.
More tradition Maryland Republicans have recently lamented the advance of Paul supporters within the ranks of the state party.
Another Paul activist, Christopher Panasuk, is a Republican candidate in the heavily Democratic 3rd District. He faces Paul Spause in the February 12th Republican primary. Spause ran for the nomination in 2006 and received 2% in an eight-person field.
Yet with no other Republicans currently in the 2nd District race and the filing deadline approaching on Monday, a Paul supporter is all but certain to clinch the Republican nomination.
Matthews is very active supporter of Congressman Paul's presidential candidacy, which he described in a post on Blog Baltimore as "a voice of reason in a field of delusional candidates, particularly among Republicans." He hosted a fundraiser for Paul at his home on October 20th.
Both Matthews and Panasuk are also candidates for Delegate to the Republican National Convention.
The regular Republican organization may seek to field a more traditional candidate this weekend at their state convention in Westminster.
Regardless, Matthews, a political novice, or any Republican candidate has a steep hill to climb. Ruppersberger was re-elected in 2006 by a margin of 69% to 31%. Although the 2nd was once reliably Republican, redistricting radically altered its makeup. It is currently rated D+8 on the Cook Partisan Voting Index.
But it seems their goal is not to beat Maryland Democrats.
It's to firmly establish the Ron Paul wing of the Maryland Republican Party.
Article Tools
Contributors
Wally Edge
As we celebrate the 232nd anniversary of our nation's independence at Philadelphia tomorrow, today should be when we take note of what occured in ... >
Rob Tornoe
P. Kenneth Burns
Consider this piece to be my no confidence vote in Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson (D). OK, to be fair, I never had confidence in ... >
David Paulson
Better late than never. Well, some folks think so anyway.
The truth is, last weekend’s program featuring talk radio host Bob Ehrlich ... >
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Ron Paul endorses Hoyer challenger
- No confidence in Prince George’s County
- On July 4, Harris celebrates his immigrant parents' American dream
- The Monday after, Part 3
- This Week's Maryland 'Winners and Losers'
- Steele, on the stump for Harris, says ‘Republican brand quite frankly sucks’
- State GOP criticizes Van Hollen’s record on pork
- Pelosi dishes on the '76 presidential primary
- Kratovil takes shot at Harris on earmarks and beach funding
- Paulson agrees with Steele that the ‘Republican brand quite frankly sucks,’ not much else
- Younger Glendening will likely stay behind the scenes
- Candidates vie for Britt's seat
- Please define "landslide"
- Dougherty is water off Duck's back
- Harris handily wins GOP activists' straw poll
- Party affiliation continues to swing Democratic
- Reacting to endorsements, Kennedy Townsend compares Clinton to RFK
- Another Paul supporter files for Congress
- Ron Paul endorses Hoyer challenger
- SEIU COPE launches anti-Wynn ads
Quote of the Day
July 2, 2008
"For Mr. Jennings to retreat from this process concerns me greatly. I'm asking them to assure the same scrutiny that they applied with Mr. Jennings is the same process they use for all applicants and that there not be assassination of character behind closed doors."
- State Sen. Catherine E. Pugh (D-Baltimore), on Larry Jennings's withdrawal from consideration for the job of advising the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System.
- Washington Times, 07/02/08
Recent Press Releases
Syndicate
Wow. Paul Spause is delusional just like a Neo-Con
I was considering supporting your campaign with a donation, and urging others to donate too, until I read your response here. I hope no Ron Paul supporter will help Paul Spause. You should look into the reasons Ron Paul believes the way he does about U.S. foreign policy. Ever heard of "blowback" since you claim you were in the intelligence community? How about a constitutional declaration of war voted on by Congress? Ever heard of that? How about our current 9 trillion dollar national debt, or the 50 trillion dollars owed in entitlements? Did you ever hear about those debts? How do you expect to "protect our national interests in the modern world" when we are bankrupt as a nation? These foreign entanglements are draining America's ability to take care of itself, i.e. our borders,infrastructure, education,etc. I urge you Paul Spause, to do your homework and look into the reasons Ron Paul and his supporters have the beliefs they do. You will be surprised to find out just how right they are.
Like a Libertarian, but with a dose of reality
Yes, I got 2% of the vote in the 2006 primary after 2 months of campaigning and spending about $5,000 (compared to the top vote getters who spent a combined $400,000 in the primary). I learned a lot in that race from John White and Gary Applebaum and I got campaign experience against Sarbanes and other tough Democrats.
My policies come from the same source as the Libertarians, but with a dose of reality. The reality from serving in the U.S. Air Force and working in the intelligence community. I support small government, low tax rates, and personal liberty; but Washington's warning of "beware foreign entanglements" has been supplanted by the reality of living in world where 19 thugs can kill 3000 people and one belligerent nation can wreak havoc on the world energy market.
WE ARE ENTANGLED, and Representative Paul and his supporters are not prepared to protect our national interests in the modern world.
I think Maryland republicans
I think Maryland republicans need to wake up. Republicans got wiped out in Maryland last year. Ron Paul has alot of support here in Maryland. He's got all the delegates and has 6 supporters running for congress. One of them securing a nomination.
Post new comment