United Liberty

If you’ve followed Ron Paul’s campaign, then you’ve no doubt heard the rumors of a deal between he and Mitt Romney. Some of us, including myself, dismissed this out of hand since Paul really doesn’t have much in common policy-wise with Romney. Not to mention that Paul is almost nearly as disliked among conservatives, mostly because of his views on foreign policy, as Romney.

But Time reports that Paul’s camp is indeed actively talking with Romney about priorities and possibly the Paul name appearing on the ticket:

Even as they tamp down rumors of a pact, Paul’s advisers concede that the friendship between Paul and Romney is the initial step toward a deal. And behind the scenes, discussions between the two campaigns — as well as initial discussions with the Santorum and Gingrich camps, according to one Paul adviser — are slowly taking shape.

An alliance could benefit both camps. Paul’s support would go a long way toward helping Romney with a bloc of young Republicans who have been turning out in huge numbers for Paul and who otherwise might stay home in November. It might also help Romney grab all of Paul’s delegates. Such an arrangement would help Paul get what a Romney ally called “an important speaking role at the convention.”
[…]
Aides say if Paul can’t win the nomination, four legislative priorities would top the Texas Representative’s wish list: deep spending cuts that lead to a balanced budget; the restoration of civil liberties; a commitment to reclaim the legislative branch’s right to declare war, which it abdicated to the executive branch in recent decades; and reforms that shore up the U.S. monetary system, such an audit of the Federal Reserve or competing-currency legislation. The Texas Representative might also be enticed, says campaign chairman Jesse Benton, by the prospect of serving as a presidential adviser, a Cabinet position for someone in his orbit or “perhaps a vice presidency.”

Not for himself, but rather his son.

Adding Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to the ticket is, I suppose, a possibility, but it’s a stretch. Outside of placating his father, Paul doesn’t have much appeal from a national perspective. And I don’t say that to slight him. I’ve been impressed with the younger Paul since before he ran for office. It’s just the logistics.

But let me ask you, do you really believe that Romney, Gingrich or Santorum are going to actually carry any of Paul’s policy wishes into the White House? The only one I can see any of them touching is an audit of the Federal Reserve, and Gingrich may be the only candidate left that would pursue that.

I just don’t see Paul endorsing Romney, or any of the others for that matter. And even if he did, what would his supporters do? Yes, they generally take what Paul says as gospel, but voting for Romney may be a bridge too far.