MISSOULA, Mont. — John McCain might be the presumed Republican presidential nominee, but supporters of Ron Paul in Montana refused to abandon their candidate.
The group led an impassioned fight Friday at the Montana GOP convention, shaking things up in a failed effort to secure the state’s national convention delegates for Paul — who suspended his bid this month.
While the battle jazzed up a normally dull delegate selection process, Paul supporters could not muster enough votes to trump McCain’s backers. In the end, McCain received all 22 delegates despite a close vote, party officials said.
Earlier in the evening, Paul told the crowd that his support in Montana was the best he had received anywhere.
“Montana’s been treating me quite well,” he said. “The spirit is alive here.”
