Son doesn’t shine as bright for Ron Paul supporters

TAMPA, Fla. - Rand Paul is not his father's son.

That's the train of thought running through the Nevada delegation of Ron Paul supporters who Wednesday night heard Rand Paul, a U.S. senator from Kentucky, address the Republican National Convention.

While Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who ran for president, is a libertarian hero who has battled the GOP establishment for decades, his son endorsed Mitt Romney during the GOP primary season.

When Sen. Paul ended his 15-minute speech Wednesday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, he described Romney as the man who could restore the American dream and "lead us forward, away from the looming debt crisis," one of his father's driving concerns.

"It will take someone who believes in America's greatness, who believes in and can articulate the American dream, someone who has created jobs, someone who understands and appreciates what makes America great, someone who will lead our party and our nation forward," Paul said.

"I believe that someone is our nominee: Governor Mitt Romney," he finished.

Supporters broke out in cheers, and one delegate from Kentucky, which sat next to Nevada on the floor, screamed several times, "Thank you Rand Paul for endorsing Mitt Romney!"

In contrast, a couple of Ron Paul backers in the Nevada delegation removed Rand Paul stickers from their lapels.

Others from the Silver State questioned whether the son could carry the liberty torch forward.

"Where he talked about liberties he spoke in generalities," said Cynthia Kennedy, a Nevada delegate who wanted to see Ron Paul become president. "I think Rand Paul tries to keep in the middle."

Kennedy said Sen. Paul should do more to try to fight the National Defense Authorization Act, which allows for indefinite military detention - something Congressman Paul has deplored.

"He didn't give half the speech his father would have," Kennedy said. "Whether you liked or didn't like Ron Paul, he always evoked a strong response. I felt no response to Rand Paul."

The Ron Paul movement in Nevada was thrown into uncertainty this week after they lost a battle Tuesday to nominate their candidate from the floor of the GOP convention. It was the second time Paul had failed to win the nomination, and at age 77 he is retiring from Congress.

Some Paul delegates were so disheartened they didn't show up for Wednesday night's convention, leaving the 28 Nevada chairs more than half empty. Alternates were called on to replace them.

At least half the Paul backers don't plan to attend today either when Romney will accept the nomination.

At a loss, Paul acolytes are now looking for a new leader, although Ron Paul isn't expected to fade away and will continue to inspire. But finding a new presidential candidate to promote is another matter.

There is talk already of Rand Paul running for president in 2016. And he won shouts of support last Sunday when he joined his father at a Tampa rally away from the site of the convention, where the Texas congressman didn't get a speaking role.

Instead, convention organizers played a tribute video to Ron Paul before his son took the stage to attack President Barack Obama and praise Romney.

"When the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare, the first words out of my mouth were: I still think it is unconstitutional!" the Kentucky senator said, drawing a huge round of applause. "The left-wing blogs were merciless. Even my wife said, 'Can't you pleeeease count to 10 before you speak?'

"So, I've had time now to count to 10 and, you know what? I still think it's unconstitutional."

That's the sort of fiery rhetoric the Ron Paul backers appreciate. But the senator also has compromised with other Republicans in Washington, including in sanctioning Iran, which has upset the father's anti-war followers who want to get U.S. troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I don't think he's automatically the liberty Republican we're looking for," said Kurt Criss, a Nevada Paul supporter. "We monitor his actions, not what he says." Endorsing Romney, "was not seen well."

His wife, Marla Criss, added, "It will take some time for somebody to emerge" to take Ron Paul's place.

Not all of Ron Paul's backers were as wary, however.

Pat Kerby said he had looked forward to both the tribute video and the speech.

"He's different than his dad," Kerby said. "He's deep in the political arena, but he understands how to get things done. Whereas Ron Paul stands as a beacon for principles, Rand Paul will accomplish things by forming coalitions. I don't think you have to abandon your principles to compromise."

Rob Tyree is another Nevada delegate and Ron Paul supporter who is willing to give the son a chance. Tyree was among about 50 delegates who were invited to a meeting with Rand Paul at a private home Wednesday by his father's presidential campaign.

"I like him. I spent a little bit of time with him today," Tyree said. "It seemed like it was a bit of a way to appreciate the delegates who backed Ron Paul."

It also may have been a way for the father to pass the torch to his son.

Ann Barnet of Reno, a Ron Paul alternative delegate, said the movement is in search of a new liberty leader who doesn't necessarily have to be a Ron Paul clone - or a son.

"I like Rand Paul," Barnet said. "I like a lot of his ideas, but he's not his father. He's more prone to compromise. It's good and bad."

Asked whether Rand Paul can carry his father's constitutional liberty movement forward, Barnet said the ideas of limited government have spread across the country and can't be stopped.

"Ron Paul lit millions of torches," Barnet said. "There's not just one torch to pass, and there's not just one person to carry it. It's not about the man. It's about the ideas."

Asked who she will vote for on Nov. 6, Barnet like many Paul diehards suggested it won't be Romney.

"I have not decided," she said. "I will vote my conscience. At this time, I'm 'no' on Romney."

Contact reporter Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow her on Twitter @lmyerslvrj.