Sixteen Ron Paul supporters from Massachusetts are challenging a decision by state party leaders to disqualify them as delegates to the national convention in Tampa next month.
According to the
Boston Globe, the sixteen have filed a formal complaint with the Republican National Committee (RNC) claiming they were unfairly cut from the Massachusetts delegation because of concerns they would not be loyal to presumed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
The delegates, all of whom were original supporters of Paul’s presidential bid, insist they were fairly elected to their delegate slots at the state party caucuses in April, where they defeated Romney’s own chosen delegates, the Globe reported.
In a letter to the RNC challenging their disqualification, the delegates accused the state party of changing the rules to award the slots to Romney’s delegates.
They also argued that the affidavits they were asked to sign pledging their allegiance to Romney at the convention were not part of state or national party requirements and they received them “less than one week before an arbitrary deadline” for returning them.
According to the Globe, some actually did sign the affidavit and return it on time, while others either missed the deadline or sent in a different version that did not actually pledge their support to Romney.
Asked about the complaint, Massachusetts Republican Party spokesman Tim Buckley, told the Globe, “This matter is currently before the RNC and we await their decision.”
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