TAMPA, Florida (NEWS CENTER) -- One day after walking out of the Republican National Convention, supporters of Ron Paul said they hope to have a large influence on Maine's Republican party on both the state and county level.
Brent Tweed, who became Maine State Republican Convention's chair after supporters of Paul took control of the convention in May, said he hoped the boycott of the convention would energize those who believe in limited government to get behind what he called "liberty oriented candidates" in the fall. Tweed said, "We currently, at the state committee level, we have almost a majority, and so I think we have a large influence within the Maine Republican Party here in Maine. And we're looking to grow that influence and move towards a more liberty-oriented state of affairs."
The Republican National Committee replaced 10 Maine delegates who supported Ron Paul with 10 supporting Mitt Romney, saying there were irregularities at the state convention. That angered Paul's supporters, who say their delegates were elected properly. And Paul delegate Jim Azzola said Wednesday, he had no regrets walking out. "It made a statement to Mainers. It made a statement to the rest of the convention delegates and to the entire GOP audience that Maine is adamant; the delegates it selected were duly elected, and there's no reason for us not to stage a protest and walk out."
Maine GOP Chair Charlie Webster felt otherwise, saying, "It's kind of embarrassing for Maine Republicans, but they {Paul's supporters} don't represent the views of most Maine Republicans." He said there would not be problems with future state party conventions.
Meanwhile, the Paul delegates said they didn't know whether they would support Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney in the general election. They said that all depended on whether he adopted some of Paul's limited government principles in his platform. "I think party unity is good," Tweed said. "But when you get sunned and completely shut out, it makes unity difficult. We've always been about principles. That's why we've supported Ron Paul."
NEWS CENTER