MN delegate accuses Romney campaign of “power grab”

Marianne Stebbins, a supporter of Ron Paul's presidential campaign who chairs the Minnesota delegation to the Republican National Convention, said new delegation selection rules "strip state parties' authority to choose convention delegates."

On Friday the Republican National Convention Rules Committee gave the Republican National Committee authority to bind state party delegates to presidential candidates based on statewide primary and caucuses straw-poll results. The move was a reaction to successful efforts of Texas Congressman and GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul to secure national delegates at district and state conventions.

"Gov. Romney's campaign counsel Ben Ginsberg in today's [Friday] Rules Committee meeting adopted an attitude toward Liberty Republicans that if you can't beat them, then beat them with a stick," said Stebbins, a member of the Rules Committee. "Mr. Ginsberg and the interests he represents made it clear today that Liberty Republicans and Tea Party Republicans are unwelcome guests at this party."

Thirty-two of the 40 national delegates from Minnesota are going to the convention in Tampa as Ron Paul supporters.

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