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GOP convention winners and losers, from Condoleezza Rice to Clint Eastwood (+video)

5. Winner: Ron Paul supporters

Warren Richey/The Christian Science Monitor
Ron Paul supporters cheer on the convention floor as a video tribute to the Texas congressman and recent presidential candidate is shown to the Republican gathering on Aug. 29.

So, their candidate didn’t get the nomination. Or a speaking slot (he still hasn’t endorsed Mitt Romney). And Paul supporters lost the fight over rule changes designed to limit their voice. And convention officials were reportedly confiscating some Ron Paul signs.

The convention was still an achievement for the venerable libertarian congressman, who walked the convention floor at one point in a Hawaiian lei and is retiring from the House after this year.

On Wednesday night, Paul and his son, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, were major players in the convention programming. The younger Paul (who did endorse Romney and submitted his speech for approval) got to speak, and the elder got a four-minute tribute video. It was a major coup and showed what a force the libertarian wing of the party has become.

Add to that the disproportionate attention they received from the news media, and Paul supporters should leave Tampa feeling they had an impact.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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