Mitt Romney avoids Ron Paul ambush, but may not be out of the woods yet.

"Oooh, and I was so close."

Courtesy of The Christian Science Monitor:  

The Republican congressman from Texas has doggedly worked his way through the GOP primary/caucus season, unwavering in his conservative-libertarian message, steadily picking up delegates to the August convention as his enthusiastic and loyal supporters turn out in droves to cheer him on. 

But in his last chance to be nominated at the Republican convention in Tampa, Rep. Paul failed. What would have been a highly-visible event at the venue where Mitt Romney (who garnered the necessary 1,144 delegates two months ago) almost certainly will be nominated, will not happen. 

At the GOP state convention in Nebraska on Saturday, Mr. Paul didn’t win enough delegates to be nominated for president. It also means he won’t be able to demand a speaking slot at the convention.

So Ron Paul's subversive attempt to get his name on the ballot goes limp before the money shot, which should inspire a huge sigh of relief from the Romney campaign.  However if Romney thinks it is smooth sailing from here on out, he really does NOT know this new Republican party very well.

This courtesy of Politico:

Romney’s high command and the Republican National Committee are warily eyeing three potential events outside of the actual convention next month that could serve as distractions to thousands of reporters looking for any semblance of news surrounding the official proceedings. 

Paul, the libertarian-leaning GOP congressman from Texas, is planning a “Rally for the Liberty Delegates” across town at the University of South Florida on the Sunday before the convention begins. 

Just down I-75 that same night in Sarasota, Trump is set to receive a Statesman of the Year award from the Sarasota Republican Party at a local party dinner. 

And then there’s Palin, whose PAC earlier this year spent $4,500 to reserve space for an event within walking distance of the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where the convention will be held. 

"I can SEE the convention from my rented space at the plaza. Just wait until Romney rears his head!"

Any of the three could divert attention from what will be a carefully crafted, down-to-the-minute agenda aimed at elevating Romney and hammering President Barack Obama for his stewardship of the economy. But while organizers ultimately have little control over such outside events, they do determine who exactly is and is not allowed a turn before the cameras inside the arena. And on this – mindful of divisive conventions past like 1964 and 1992 — they’re treading lightly. 

Except for the convention four years ago (for obvious reasons) I have not paid much attention to these GOP conventions, but I have to say that THIS one looks to be the potential equivalent of a three ring circus, under surprise attack from an alien invasion, right before a volcano erupts and sends the entire party fleeing into the sea to avoid the molten lava. In other words, I would not miss it for the world! (Note to self: Buy more popcorn!)

However it still looks like the Romney campaign is doing everything they can think of to make damn sure that the pinhead and bearded lady from side show do not get in the way of the main act.

In the case of the more provocative figures in the party, the Trumps and the Palins, organizers are quietly hoping they’ll be satisfied during the week by having access to the various news outlets arrayed in Tampa and believe they can be made to feel important without necessarily getting time on the stage. 

Too bad really, I can hardly think of anything that would be more entertaining than watching the Romney campaign trying to salvage a shred of their dignity while Little Okey-Dokey Annie and Howdy Doody's illegitimate, and overfed, offspring cling to the stage for dear life while GOP officials drag them out of camera range.

Oh well, you can't have everything!