As Predicted, Ron Paul Backers Take Over Maine GOP Convention

http://bdnpull.bangorpublishing.netd...-1-600x428.jpgTroy R. Bennett | BDN

A backer of pro-Ron Paul candidate Ron Morrell for Maine GOP convention secretary rallies support on the floor Saturday morning May 5, 2012, in Augusta.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Even before the Maine Republican Party convention kicked off in earnest Saturday morning, there was a buzz around the event.


Would GOP Chairman Charlie Webster face a backlash for apparently bending the rules to name a convention chairman ahead of time and not at the convention? Would Ron Paul supporters “take over” the convention, as Webster feared? Would what is supposed to be a party-building gathering devolve into a fractured mess?


Those questions were answered by lunchtime: Yes, yes and yes.


In extremely close votes late Saturday morning, convention-goers elected Ron Morrell, a Paul delegate, as secretary and then elected Brent Tweed, also a Paul delegate, as chairman.


Both were picked over the two candidates that were endorsed by the party establishment and the votes signaled a likely shift in how the convention would unfold.


Webster had predicted in an email to GOP members that Paul supporters would attempt to assert their authority at the convention.

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