Badger Paul
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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS -- Citing flaws in the selection process, a key Republican National Committee panel last week recommended that neither of Nevada's two dueling delegations be seated at the party's national convention in September.
The Republican National Committee's contest panel rejected both a group backed by supporters of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul as well as a delegation appointed by the state party, according to a source who had read the panel's ruling but did not want to be named before it was formally submitted to the RNC.
The panel recommended that three "automatic delegates" should be seated as planned, the source said.
"The Nevada Republican Party fully expected today's decision," state party Chairman Sue Lowden said in a statement issued late Friday. "We have every intention of moving forward with our delegation and are prepared to be seated at the national convention."
The committee's recommendation throws into question the status of a 34-member delegation from a key swing state that likely Republican nominee John McCain has been working hard to turn his way.
It also set off a series of negotiations between state and national GOP officials over how to resolve a complicated dispute with an embarrassing origin for the state party.
The Nevada delegation was appointed by the party's executive board after the state convention was shut down by party leaders just as Paul supporters were poised to win delegates.
The state party's attempt to reconvene the convention in July failed because the party couldn't get enough people to attend.
Meanwhile, a group of dedicated Paul supporters organized a rogue convention in June and elected its own delegation. Both groups were shot down when the dispute went before the RNC panel on Friday.
Mike Weber, a GOP activist representing the Paul delegation, said he was still reviewing the panel's recommendation.
"We're hopeful that justice will prevail," Weber said. "We're trying to keep the process within the party and let the party decide."
The matter will now be taken up by the Republication National Committee the week of Aug. 24 when it meets in Minneapolis in advance of its convention is St. Paul, Minn.
Nevada GOP officials said the appointed delegation was chosen based on the applicant's GOP service, prominent recommendations and military service.
The appointed delegation and its 31 alternates largely include party insiders and officials, including Joe Brown, Bruce Woodbury, Andy Abboud, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Assembly members Heidi Gansert and Ty Cobb, Lynn Weidner, state Sen. Barbara Cegavske, Robert Uithoven, Steve Martin, Barbara Lee-Woollen and Lowden.
The state party's decision to appoint the national convention delegates prompted a lawsuit by Ron Paul supporters and other disaffected Republicans, who contended state law requires the national delegates to be selected by state convention delegates.
Washoe County District Judge Jerry Polaha denied a motion to halt the party from appointing the delegates, saying the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case
LAS VEGAS -- Citing flaws in the selection process, a key Republican National Committee panel last week recommended that neither of Nevada's two dueling delegations be seated at the party's national convention in September.
The Republican National Committee's contest panel rejected both a group backed by supporters of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul as well as a delegation appointed by the state party, according to a source who had read the panel's ruling but did not want to be named before it was formally submitted to the RNC.
The panel recommended that three "automatic delegates" should be seated as planned, the source said.
"The Nevada Republican Party fully expected today's decision," state party Chairman Sue Lowden said in a statement issued late Friday. "We have every intention of moving forward with our delegation and are prepared to be seated at the national convention."
The committee's recommendation throws into question the status of a 34-member delegation from a key swing state that likely Republican nominee John McCain has been working hard to turn his way.
It also set off a series of negotiations between state and national GOP officials over how to resolve a complicated dispute with an embarrassing origin for the state party.
The Nevada delegation was appointed by the party's executive board after the state convention was shut down by party leaders just as Paul supporters were poised to win delegates.
The state party's attempt to reconvene the convention in July failed because the party couldn't get enough people to attend.
Meanwhile, a group of dedicated Paul supporters organized a rogue convention in June and elected its own delegation. Both groups were shot down when the dispute went before the RNC panel on Friday.
Mike Weber, a GOP activist representing the Paul delegation, said he was still reviewing the panel's recommendation.
"We're hopeful that justice will prevail," Weber said. "We're trying to keep the process within the party and let the party decide."
The matter will now be taken up by the Republication National Committee the week of Aug. 24 when it meets in Minneapolis in advance of its convention is St. Paul, Minn.
Nevada GOP officials said the appointed delegation was chosen based on the applicant's GOP service, prominent recommendations and military service.
The appointed delegation and its 31 alternates largely include party insiders and officials, including Joe Brown, Bruce Woodbury, Andy Abboud, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Assembly members Heidi Gansert and Ty Cobb, Lynn Weidner, state Sen. Barbara Cegavske, Robert Uithoven, Steve Martin, Barbara Lee-Woollen and Lowden.
The state party's decision to appoint the national convention delegates prompted a lawsuit by Ron Paul supporters and other disaffected Republicans, who contended state law requires the national delegates to be selected by state convention delegates.
Washoe County District Judge Jerry Polaha denied a motion to halt the party from appointing the delegates, saying the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case
