BackboneAmerica

Colorado Republican conventioneers gave presumptive presidential nominee John McCain a strong vote of confidence at the state assembly in Broomfield on May 31, despite a loud and proud showing by Ron Paul supporters.

Separately, Mark Hillman rolled to victory for national committeeman on his rousing speech, smoothly organized campaign, and statewide alliances from a near-miss for State Treasurer in 2006. Hillman scored 55% against 26% for impressive newcomer Leondray Gholston and 19% for Dave Schultheis, the Reaganite state senator from Colorado Springs.

The 44 slots for national convention delegates and alternates (see results listed below) were contested among a record 380 aspirants who included 70-plus Pauliacs with their mustard-colored T-shirts and defiant slogans. Winning tallies went mostly to the names (some familiar, others not) on a McCain Unity Slate flyer that papered the hall.

Republicans hoping for victory in November have to be concerned, though, with the tepid McCain feelings evident at Broomfield in contrast with the fire of Ron Paul’s “real right” devotees.

Also ominous to me were the apathy manifest in some 4200 no-shows on Saturday for 6800 state assembly delegate and alternate positions, and the near-invisibility of President Bush in the day’s proceedings. His name drew only the weakest applause when mentioned by National Committeewoman Lilly Nunez in her reelection speech.

Encouraging, in contrast, was the energy and determination mobilized among Republican legislators by their leaders, Sen. Andy McElhany and Rep. Mike May and their lieutenants. This bodes well for the fall, especially in light of Gov. Bill Ritter’s repeated stumbles, most recently his court defeat on TABOR as colorfully related to the assembly by Jon Caldara.

The delegates’ blood was also stirred by excellent speeches from Bob Schaffer (as detailed in Crater’s post above this one) and Tom Tancredo. Tancredo grinned as he hinted about the future. Is he taking aim on Ritter for 2010?

Backbone America congratulates our office manager, Kathleen LeCrone, on her election for RNC alternate in an earlier round of voting two weeks ago.

Yours truly, after being an RNC delegate at New York in 2004, a Nixon staffer at the Miami convention in 1972, and a page at RNC Chicago when Nixon bested Goldwater in 1960, passed on the delegate race this year. I hope to cover both RNC St. Paul and DNC Denver on a media credential for 710 KNUS.

Colorado Republican Party
Delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention
Official Results as published by state GOP, May 31

At-Large State Delegates:

Marti Allbright
Wayne Williams
Kerith Brehm
Alan Duff
Charcie Russell
John Carson
Kristy Burton
Crista Huff
Albert Bollwerk
Monica Owens
Merilou Athens-Barnekow
Conrad Ladd
Beverly Henry
Kent Lambert
Thomas Kirk
Mojie Adler
Shari Williams
Clif Sams
Celeste Huber
Douglas Robinson
Gary Bartel
Tom Wiens

At-Large State Alternates:

Mary Smith
Ryan Call
Candy Figa
Art Onweller
Patrick Johnson
William Leone
William Jeffers
Jack Gloriod
Roger Houdek
Athena Dalton
Patrick Kelly
Michael Eddy
Frieda Wallison
Kevin Holst
Lia Moran
Jace Ratzlaff
June Robinson
Joe Smith
Cynthia Hamlyn
Haley Brooke-Hitching
Clark Bolser
Hugo Chavez-Rey

Congressional District 1:

Delegates: Gabriel Schwartz
Michele Austin
Sharon Johnson

Alternates: Joy Wood
David Sprecace
Harry Arkin

Congressional District 2:

Delegates: Marty Neilson
Guy Short
Kimberly Peticoles

Alternates: LeMoine Dowd
Patrick Johnson
Timothy Gilmore

Congressional District 3:

Delegates: Jack Taylor
Geneva Taylor
Carol Brown

Alternates: Mark Young
Ralph Walchle
Wendell Coats

Congressional District 4:

Delegates: Abe Villarreal
Perry Buck
Sue Sharkey

Alternates: Kevin Lundberg
Anita Cornwell
Travis Witsitt

Congressional District 5:

Delegates: John Suthers
Robert Balink
Ken Chlouber

Alternates: Robert McCombs
Summer Vanderbilt
Merilee O’Neal

Congressional District 6:

Delegates: Joe Nunez
Kendall Unruh
Nathan Chambers

Alternates: Kim Ransom
Kathleen LeCrone
Richard Murray

Congressional District 7:

Delegates: Matt Knoedler
Shirley Sietz
Lynn Cottrell

Alternates: Katherine Isenberger
Jack Ott
Jobadiah Weeks