For the first time this primary season, openly-gay Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger has outperformed one of the major 2012 competitors vying for his party’s nomination.
The Puerto Rico Daily Star reports that the former GOP consultant placed FIFTH in the island’s Sunday primary, winning about 1.5 percent of the overall vote. Karger NARROWLY beat Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who received roughly one percent.
The paper notes that Karger spent six days campaigning in the U.S. territory, which was more than ANY other candidate. But he says the 250-vote victory was worth the time and energy.
KARGER: For a first-time candidate, who just did it the old-fashioned way, worked hard and had a Spanish-language commercial on TV talking about my moderation and my plan to bring jobs to this country, I think that message is starting to resonate. And the more attention I can get and the more people understand that there’s a moderate Republican who pushes full equality in this campaign, I think I have a great chance of success.
Karger also says that he feels his minor triumph sends an important message to Puerto Rico’s slowly-emerging LGBT community.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won Sunday’s contest, securing Puerto Rico’s 20 delegates for the GOP National Convention in August. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum came in at a distant second.
