GORHAM — More than 600 people showed up at a rally for Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul on the University of Southern Maine campus Saturday.
The crowds overflowed from two lecture halls, one of them equipped to show Paul’s speech on a giant screen via the Internet as he spoke on the other side of campus. The rally was one of several stops on Paul’s two-day tour of the state. On Friday, he was greeted by packed houses in Bangor and Lewiston despite a messy winter storm.
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Prior to arriving at USM Saturday, Paul held a rally outside L.L. Bean in Freeport where he picked up the endorsement of Linda Bean, granddaughter of the company’s founder and a local entrepenuer.
“We have every reason to believe we will do very well in Maine,” Paul told the crowds in Gorham.
The Texas representative also dismissed suggestions he would back any of his GOP rivals.
“I think that’s premature. We have a ways to go,” Paul said, adding he was glad they were speaking favorably about some of his libertarian-leaning views.
“I’ll work with anybody who wants to come in the direction of Constitutional government,” Paul said.
He noted that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had endorsed his views on monetary policy in a nationally televised debate this week. Paul has called for the Federal Reserve to be audited and ultimately eliminated, and wants the value of the dollar tied to gold.
Paul is bypassing the expensive Florida Republican primary with its older demographic on Jan. 31 to focus on Maine and other caucus states where his ardent, generally younger and Internet-savvy supporters have a chance of out-organizing other candidates.
Although Republican committees started caucusing in some Maine communities Saturday, including a half dozen in Penboscot County, it will be another few weeks before it is known whether Paul’s strategy pays off.
Most Maine Republican committees, who face a March 20 deadline to caucus, are meeting between Feb. 4 and 11. They will select 24 delegates statewide to the Republican National Convention in Tampa this summer.
Paul is also concentrating on Nevada’s caucus on Feb. 4 and caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado on Feb. 7.
He has yet to win a single contest. He came in second to Mitt Romney in New Hampshire, his best showing to date.
On Saturday Paul faced a young crowd in Gorham, most of them clapping and cheering at Paul’s libertarian message. Those who didn’t make it inside peered in windows to get a glimpse of the candidate.
Paul emphasized his opposition to the government’s monetary system, interference in other countries and efforts to regulate lifestyle choices.
“The worst part of the monetary system is it allows the government to grow and if government grows your liberties go down,” Paul said.
Kevin Knapp of Standish, a 42-year-old L.L. Bean warehouse worker, said he intends to push for Paul at his Republican caucus.
“I appreciate his honesty, which may be his fatal flaw,” Knapp said.
Larry Coughlin, 24, a senior USM criminology major, said he is a big supporter of Paul and wanted to see him in person although most of his college friends are not interested in presidential politics.
“He is different than any other candidate,” Coughlin said.
Although the Internet broadcast didn’t work at the second lecture hall, it didn’t appear to dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm. Hundreds of people stayed on after the speech to wait in line to have their photograph taken with the congressman.
Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:
bquimby@pressherald.com
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