Ron Paul Finally Gets Props at RNC: Tribute Video to Be Played by Romney Campaign Tuesday

As the Republican establishment and the Mitt Romney campaign cut a deal with Texas Rep. Ron Paul's campaign to allow some of Paul's delegates from Louisiana and Massachusetts to be seated at the Republican National Convention, a short video tribute to Paul is being prepared to be shown on Tuesday, during the second night of the RNC 2012 in Tampa, Florida – reported UPI.

The announcement by Romney campaign’s strategist Russ Schriefer, comes after months of vocal and grassroots support by Paul’s libertarian-leaning conservative supporters – during a spirited Republican presidential primary in which the GOP's establishment stood behind Mitt Romney and Paul supporters clung to the libertarian rock star's lead and appeal among caucus delegates across the country.

The video tribute, which will follow on the heels of a formal nominating event Monday and it seeks to offer a unified picture of a Republican convention expected to be – if not broken, at least – divided as a few hundred Paul supporters are still expected to vote for him instead for the former governor of Massachusetts and presumptive 2012 Republican presidential nominee.

"Gov. Romney and Congressman Paul, while they certainly disagree on many issues, they have always have had, if you watched the debates this year, you have seen a lot of mutual respect between the two of them," Schriefer said.

According to Romney’s strategist, supporters of Paul came to the Romney campaign with the video asking them to play it at the convention on behalf of Paul’s libertarian contribution to the national debate on issues such as the deficit. 

To be fair, Romney’s selection of Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate could be a reflection of the influence Paul’s campaigning on the fiscal issues has had during the 2012 campaign.

Paul’s son, Kentucky senator Rand Paul, is expected to address the convention on Monday.