The Delegate helps form the platform, and decides who the GOP nominees are for certain offices down the ticket(including Supreme Court). Delegates also decide who runs the party.
Delegates also have to make sure their precinct GOTV's in November. It's experience. It's a stepping stone. It's a good way to make contacts.
---------------------- If I was going to run for an elected GOVT office, I would start with township trustee, county commish, or school board. I'd either wait for an open seat in one of those spots or if a dem did the impossible and win here, I'd be challenging the dem. I'd knock on a lot of doors, contact MCRGO for support(Livonia example). Talk to Right to life, and I would get as many signs out as possible. I'd go to all the community events and get my name out.
If elected, I will be one of five students representing, at-large, 9,000 students who attend the largest Fine & Performing Arts college in the midwest. I think I'll well qualified, given my background in media. The only probably is this is an ultra left wing socialist school. When I talk about political activism, people ask things like how many "anti-war" rallies I've been to. I won't even get into political party affliation. Mentioning the word "Republican" is equivilent to announcing "I concede". This college is so liberal, Bush finshed 3rd in our straw poll, behind Nader ( #1) and Gore (#2). When people ask about my voting record, I simply tell them "I don't trust the national leadership of either major party, and I never vote a straight party ticket" (which is true, actually...) I also mention I signed a petition to get Nader on the ballot (which is also true, I wanted him to suck votes from Gore)
The election is next week (April 26th), so wish me luck. It's a very surrell experience running a stelth conservative in an ultra liberal school, but most students don't bother to read up on the issues and will vote based on personality. I like my chances!