Ron Paul supporters take over Maine GOP convention – Chicago Tribune
AUGUSTA —
Ron Paul supporters narrowly won the chairmanship of the convention today.
Brent Tweed edged Charles Cragin 1,118 to 1,114 in a very close vote.
The vote came after Ron Paul supporters elected Ron Morrell secretary.
Morrell got 1,119 votes out of 2,204 to be elected convention secretary. Ron Paul supporters are here in large numbers, with more than 500 having attended an organizational meeting last night and even more here today, said Matthew McDonald, a Waldo delegate and Paul supporter.
Those who support Paul are hoping to get 13 delegates, which would be a majority of those chosen for the national convention. The convention is already more than two hours behind schedule, having started late due to the large number of attendees.
The chairman controls the meeting, including who can speak and what happens to procedural motions that are made. The chairman can have a huge impact on the outcome of the convetion.
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Republicans from across the state are filing in to the Maine Republican Party State Convention in Augusta this morning, with a total of about 3,000 delegates expected to attend.
About 400 Ron Paul supporters were estimated to attend todaywith plans to elect officers to run the convention. But it’s not easy to tell who is supporting which candidate as the attendees enter the building.
Although lines are long, check in for delegates appears to be going smoothly. With the color guard standing in the back of the civic center ready to kick off the convention, hundreds stood in a long line outside waiting to get in.
The schedule calls for a platform vote this morning, election of delegates to the national convention and speeches by the four men running for the state’s two Congressional seats. Tonight, Scott Romney, brother of presidential candidate Mitt Romney, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
Sunday’s schedule includes speeches by Gov. Paul LePage, Sen. Olympia Snowe and the party’s six candidates running for U.S. Senate.
For frequent updates on the convention throughout the day, check out our Capitol Ticker blog.
