What you described in being Ron Paul delegates for the RNC (right candidate 👍) reminds me of a book I read on how the US Constitution was passed, "Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788" by Pauline Maier, except then it happened on a larger scale, and for something far more significant. Basically corrupt shenanigans were used to steamroll acceptance of the Constitution, by the Federalists (who were like the Democrats of their day), which of course they don't teach you in school, and most Americans are likely ignorant of.

Alexander Hamilton and others wrote The Federalist Papers claiming the federal government would be limited in its powers, to get the Constitution to be accepted, but then once in office they did the opposite. A bait and switch, just like so many politicians have done when they are elected...

https://a.co/d/1iLcSOronly