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http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080718/NEWS19/807180503/1321/NEWS
The Nevada Republican Party decided Thursday not to reconvene its scuttled state convention this month, claiming it couldn't generate enough interest to reach a legal quorum to elect delegates to the national convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Instead, the party's executive board, in a private conference call July 25, would decide who from Nevada will attend the Republican National Convention to formally nominate U.S. Sen. John McCain.
The state party abruptly ended its state convention in April to head off a delegation of Ron Paul supporters who had captured control of the proceedings and appeared on track to elect a majority slate to the Sept. 1-4 national convention.
Party officials planned to reconvene on July 26. But only about 300 delegates sent in RSVPs, well short of the 675 needed for a quorum.
"With so many people concerned about the economy, it simply wouldn't be fair for us to ask delegates from all over the state to spend money to attend a convention if we know that a quorum won't be present," Chairwoman Sue Lowden said in a news release.
The disaffected Republicans elected national delegates at their own insurgent state convention in June. They also did not have enough a quorum but argued a technical rules violation at the original convention allowed them to proceed with only 328 delegates.
Although Paul, a Texas congressman with a strong libertarian bent, has dropped out of the presidential race, his supporters continue to stay active in Nevada. They hope to push the Republican Party in their philosophical direction.
"This is pretty much what we figured they would do all along," said Dr. Wayne Terhune, a Sparks dentist who funded the insurgent convention. "I don't see how this would really help the party."
Longtime Nevada Republicans said they've never experienced an aborted state convention.
"I don't ever remember such chaos in the party," said Barbara Vucanovich, a former congresswoman who has been involved in party politics since the early 1950s. "Frankly, its an embarrassment for our state and also makes it difficult for John McCain. He needs all the electoral votes he can get."
The dispute is almost certain to end up in court.
"Now, it becomes a legal issue with the RNC," said Washoe County Republican chairwoman Heidi Smith. "You will have two groups going. The group that the state party puts together, I think will prevail."
Zachary Moyle, the state party's executive director, said it's not clear how the executive board will decide who to send to the national convention.
Under party rules, the slate must be set at least 30 days before the national convention. That means the party won't have time to do a mail-in ballot.
"I'm confident whatever decision the executive board reaches will stand on the record," he said.
Mike Weber, a Republican activist who chaired the insurgent convention, said he's prepared to take his challenge of whatever slate the board puts forward to the Republican National Committee.
"Denying the right of ordinary Republicans to participate in the selection of our national Republican presidential nominee is an intolerable violation of Republican rules and principles," he said.