Minn. GOP panel to weigh rule on delegates

Marianne Stebbins
Marianne Stebbins is the former chairwoman of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's Minnesota campaign, and the chairwoman of the state delegation to the Republican National Convention.
MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik

The Central Committee of the Minnesota Republican Party will meet on Saturday, and some are hoping for a resolution opposing a new National Republican Committee rule about national convention delegate selection.

The rule change came about during the Republican National Convention last summer. It ties national convention delegate selection to presidential preference straw poll results in caucus states like Minnesota. Currently, those delegates are elected at local and state conventions.

Opponents of the new rule say it cedes power to big money politicians and special interests at the expense of the grass roots. Among the most vocal critics have been Ron Paul supporters, including Paul's former Minnesota campaign chairwoman, Marianne Stebbins, who hopes the Minnesota Central Commitee will pass a resolution opposing the rule.

"The first step is to try to get that rule removed in the RNC," Stebbins said. "Additionally, there are thing we can do. People aren't going to like this, but we don't have to hold a straw poll."

Stebbins said Republican leadership groups in more than two dozen states are already on the record opposing the new rule.

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