UPDATE 9 a.m. 12/28: There is a possibility that this AP story may have been incorrect or incomplete. One report over on the RonPaulForums suggests that there is a criteria in place which will require a top 4 finish in Iowa, or 5% national polling. I'll be following this story throughout the day--please do NOT send nasty-grams to the NH GOP just yet. LLE

According to the Associated Press, Ron Paul--the guy who has raised more money than any other Republican candidate in the 4th quarter; the guy who by some standards has twice the support of Fred Thompson and in some polls is running even with Huckabee in New Hampshire, is going to be excluded from the final Republican candidate forum two days before the New Hampshire Primary? The story:

GOP candidates to meet in N.H. forum WASHINGTON (AP) — The New Hampshire Republican Party is sponsoring a forum for Republican presidential candidates on Jan. 6, two days before the state's first-in-the-nation primary. The forum, where the candidates will be questioned by Fox New Channel's Chris Wallace, will be held a day after ABC holds back to back Democratic and Republican presidential debates. "Never underestimate New Hampshire voters' appetite for politics," said Fergus Cullen, the chairman of the state Republican Party. Participating in the forum will be Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson. Unlike a debate, the candidates will face questions from Wallace around a table in a studio on the campus of St. Anselm College in Goffstown, N.H.. The 90-minute encounter will air live beginning at 8 p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel and on Fox News Radio.

According to Chris Brunner at LRC Blog, a number of irritated Ron Paul supporters are protesting via e-mail to the Chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, since the forum is actually being sponsored by the party. Far be it from me to tell others what to do, but the Republican Party obviously doesn't care an iota for the enthusiasm--or the money--that Ron Paul supporters could bring to the Party.

LLE