Ron Paul to supporters: 'Be respectful

In a letter to supporters sent out last night Ron Paul acknowledged that he doesn't have enough delegates to win the nomination (duh) and told his hardcore supporters not to start a stink over it.

"Stand up for what we believe in," Paul said in the statement. "Be respectful.  And let the establishment know that we are the future of the Party and of the country."

Read the full letter after the jump.

[Politico]

“I wanted you to get an update from me personally, since we have some great news!

“Due to the smart planning of our campaign and the hard work and diligence of supporters like you, we stand to send nearly 200 bound delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa. This number shatters the predictions of the pundits and talking heads and shows the seriousness of our movement.

“What's more, we will send several hundred additional supporters to Tampa who, while bound to Romney, believe in our ideas of liberty, constitutional government, and a common-sense foreign policy.

“When it is all said and done, we will likely have as many as 500 supporters as delegates on the Convention floor.  That is just over 20 percent!

“And while this total is not enough to win the nomination, it puts us in a tremendous position to grow our movement and shape the future of the GOP!

“I hope every one of you continues the fight we have advanced so well this year.  I hope you will finish your local and state conventions, and, if you were selected as a national delegate, that you will head to Tampa in August to force the Republican Party to listen to the voice of liberty.

“We have never had this kind of opportunity.  There will be hundreds of your fellow supporters in Tampa who will be ready and willing to push the Republican Party back to its limited government, liberty roots.

“There are many issues to fight for in Tampa.  Also, candidates like Justin Amash, Kurt Bills, and Thomas Massie need your support as we move into the fall.  Across the country, supporters of liberty have won local office and leadership positions in the GOP, and we need to keep working.

“Our delegates’ presence must be felt both in Tampa and in years to come.

“Stand up for what we believe in.  Be respectful.  And let the establishment know that we are the future of the Party and of the country.

“Our Revolution is just getting started.  You'll be hearing plenty from me as we approach Tampa and the fall elections.  You'll also be hearing of important developments on Audit the Fed and Campaign for Liberty.

“I hope you'll continue to stand with me as we go forward.  Our Revolution could not have come this far without you.

“For Liberty,

Ron Paul”