GOP convention heats up

SANDPOINT - Hundreds of Republican delegates from every corner of Idaho took part in the penultimate day of their party's state convention Friday. The group suffered through the hot, often-muggy confines of the Bonner County Fairgrounds to debate issues and listen to speeches from former Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho.

Delegates spent much of Friday in meetings discussing and voting on issues ranging from marijuana laws to the inclusiveness of primary elections.

A resolution opposing legalizing marijuana and supporting full enforcement of existing drug laws, sponsored by Ada County delegate Jeremy Cho, passed on a 21-9 vote.

The resolution was seen as a response to the presence of Ryan Davidson, a delegate from Ada County and supporter of libertarian-leaning GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul. Davidson has spearheaded three successful pro-marijuana ballot initiatives in Hailey.

The Ron Paul contingency was well represented throughout the fairgrounds, but were not always welcomed with open arms, according to some Paul supporters.

Delegates Karen Skoog of Pend Oreille County and Alanna Grimm of Kootenai County spent Friday handing out Paul paraphernalia, including bottled water bearing the likeness of the Texas Republican.

Both Skoog and Grimm said they experienced a degree of anger from some convention attendees, with several refusing to take the Ron Paul water.

“People have said we're dividing the party,” said Skoog, who called the claim ridiculous.

Neither Skoog nor Grimm said who they would support in the general election now that Paul has suspended his campaign. Skoog said it will be an individual decision that each of Paul's supporters will have to make.

Friday's events ended with speeches from Burns and Sali, who both spoke on the importance of GOP victories in November's general election.

Burns said Democrats are largely on the wrong side of the issues that Idahoans support and asked the crowd to close ranks around Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and the message of the Republican Party.

“When we pull this team together we start honing the message of who we are and why we're here,” Burns said.

Sali expanded on the importance of electing McCain and other Republicans in November, calling the election a battle for the future of the country.

Speaking about the possibility of a Democratically controlled White House and Congress, Sali said, “The America that we know, that the founding fathers envisioned, will cease to exist.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.