The report from the Denver Post below shows that even with Santorum out of the race and the nomination all but assured for Romney, the rank and file does not want him.
After the Wisconsin primary Romney had accrued (statistics AT THIS LINK) just 41% of the primary vote compared to 59% of the anyone but Romney vote-surely the weakest candidate ever.
And now, after all the endorsements and the calls for everyone to get together for the common good etc the opposite has happened in Colorado.
This is, in my experience, an unprecedented situation. In all cases I can recall when a candidate from either party is indisputably seen as the nominee, that is usually the end of things. For the party members in Colorado to continue to press for an alternative is striking and bodes very ill for a conservative turnout in November.
POLITICS
Colorado Republicans split delegate votes between Romney, unified Paul and Santorum supporters
Delegates show their support as Matt Holdridge, the Ron Paul 2012 Colorado State Director, speaks on behalf of the candidate during the Colorado Republican State Assembly and Convention at the Ritchie Center in Denver, CO, Saturday, April 14, 2012. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)
Cindy Smith, an alternate from Douglas County, sports her Sarah Palin pins during the Colorado Republican State Assembly and Convention at the Ritchie Center in Denver, CO, Saturday, April 14, (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)
Colorado Republicans are heading to their national convention with their most conservative delegation in years, as supporters for Ron Paul and Rick Santorum masterminded a stunning upset in electing delegates.
At the state convention in Denver today, Paul forces easily were the most vocal, adding their candidate's name at almost every opportunity. When Republicans sang "Hey, hey, hey, good-bye" to President Barack Obama, Paul backers changed the words to "Hey, hey, hey, Ron Paul."
The momentum was painful for Mitt Romney supporters, who had assumed when Santorum dropped out of the presidential race this week they'd have a much easier time in winning Colorado's delegate and alternate seats to the Republican National Convention
in Tampa in August.
Instead, some of the Santorum's supporters united with Paul's backers to form the "Conservative Unity Slate" to win a slew of delegate slots. Four years ago, only one Paul supporter was elected to attend the national convention.
"This is a revolution," said Florence Sebern of Denver, an "unpledged" delegate who was wearing a Paul pin. She was part of the slate.
Slate supporters said they wanted to send a message to Romney about the importance of sticking to conservative values.
More than 800 Republicans — easily double the number who sought to attend the RNC in 2008 — ran for the 33 elected delegate and 33 elected alternate slots.
At congressional assemblies Thursday and Friday, Republicans elected 21 delegates and 21 alternates. Thirteen of the 18 winning delegates elected Friday were on the Paul/Santorum unity slate.
Today, to the relief of Romey backers, eight of the 12 at-large delegate slots, and six of the 12 at-large alternate slots went to Romney supporters. Former Congressman Bob Beauprez and former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, both Romney supporters, were the top two vote getters.
What happened overnight?
Romney supporters realized they
"The wake-up call was how much discipline you have to have when you have a slate," said Suthers, a Romney delegate.couldn't dilute their vote and had to stick with their slate, although plenty of other Romney backers were running as delegates, said Attorney General John Suthers.
Hundreds of Republicans took to the stage and make 15-second pitches to try to get elected as a delegate. They sang, danced, whistled and even Tebowed to try to stand out.
"More pearls, less ties," said Vikki Waith of El Paso County, who made a pitch for more women to be elected.
Earlier in the morning, surrogates spoke on behalf of Paul, Romney, Santorum and Newt Gingrich. Some argued that Romney is not the defacto nominee.
game is not over until August in Tampa," said Michelle Morin of El Paso County, who spoke on behalf of Gingrich. "We need the best leader to defeat the left."
game is not over until August in Tampa," said Michelle Morin of El Paso County, who spoke on behalf of Gingrich. "We need the best leader to defeat the left."
READ THE BALANCE AT THIS LINK
Read more:Colorado Republicans split delegate votes between Romney, unified Paul and Santorum supporters - The Denver