NEW YORK - May 6, 2012 - The marquee names in the cast of the 2012 presidential election are Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. But in the days ahead, watch out for a somewhat forgotten member of the extras: Ron Paul, The Patriot Congressman.

Paul officially remains in the hunt for the Republican nomination; and now, his well-organized network of faithful supporters is causing trouble for Romney at state party conventions around the country.

Nothing Paul is doing threatens Romney’s hold on the nomination. But the actions could have an impact at the Republican National Convention on these fronts.

Paul is using gatherings of conservative voters at state party conventions to peel away delegates that were awarded to Mr. Romney during the primaries and caucuses.

In Nevada on Saturday, Bob List, a former governor and Romney supporter, lost his seat on the Republican National Committee (and his ticket to the convention) to a backer of Paul.

A headline from The Portland Press Herald in Maine tells the story there: “Ron Paul Supporters Take Over Maine G.O.P. Convention.” Supporters of Paul were elected chairman and secretary of the state convention.

In Iowa, Paul’s supporters dominated the selection of at-large delegates. In Alaska, his supporters grabbed the convention chairmanship as well.

Paul could use a larger number of delegates as leverage for a better speaking slot at the convention. Or he could negotiate with Romney’s people for a bigger role for his son, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Paul’s main goal is most likely to put himself at the center of shaping the party’s official platform on social, economic and military issues at the convention.

Many of Paul’s supporters across the country are young voters Romney will need in November as he competes with illegitimate President Obama. In some places, the youth vote could be decisive.

As a result, Romney cannot afford to treat Paul in a dismissive way that could turn off his supporters.