Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Watch NBC's Chuck Todd describe the way in which Ron Paul is amassing delegates despite

the fact he's far behind in the race.

Todd makes some very interesting points. He notes that many of these delegates may be pledged to vote for Mitt Romney on the first ballot.

But that's the extent of the pledge.

They can support Ron on all platform issues, which could be lots of fun when it comes to foreign policy. And they have total freedom on the VP vote.

Toward the end, he states that Ron could control 30 to 40 percent of the delegates. Now that would be real fun.

These conventions have become made-for-TV events. But that would create some real back-room bargaining.

As for Romney's reaction to all this, note that he sounds very hospitable to Paul.

I think there are two reasons for this. One is that he's just glad Paul is staying inside the GOP and not mounting a third-party run that could throw the election to Barack Obama.

Another is that the Grand Old Party really is old. Romney needs to get some youth support. And as Todd notes, Paul can get out bigger crowds than Romney any day of the week, most of them young.

Anyway what Paul is pulling off here is an entirely new tactic, one that will be emulated in the future I predict.