GOP's California Beauty Contest
Republican activists have ended a state party convention that featured a leadership fight centered on the candidates' abortion stances. Now, they are ready to return to their real business: Defeating Democrats.
"Compared to the differences between us and the Democrats, the differences between one Republican and another are minor," convention delegate Adam Fogerson said.
The GOP's dislike for President Clinton emerged as a unifying factor at the semiannual weekend gathering that featured appearances by seven White House hopefuls. It was a reflection of the new clout in presidential politics that comes with California's earlier-than-ever primary next year.
Sen. Bob Smith of New Hampshire and former Vice President Dan Quayle both drew standing ovations when they praised the House trial managers who fought to remove Mr. Clinton from office following his impeachment. Smith said the president "behaves like an animal."
While all seven GOP aspirants oppose abortion, their political handling of the issue mirrored the split in the party.
Smith made abortion the focus of all his speeches, reports CBS affiliate KOVR-TV in Sacramento.
He warned the GOP will "fall into the ash bin of history" if it doesn't make outlawing abortion its top priority.
The New Hampshire senator cast aside pleas from fellow Republicans to talk about issues other than abortion.
Others, like former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, echoed those who called for the party to emphasize less divisive issues.
"Instead of laying down litmus tests and rigid pronouncements, reach out to others with whom we agree," he urged convention attendees.
The California GOP suffered devastating losses in November's election, with just two Republicans holding statewide offices. That upped the ante for pulling the party together at the convention.
Dan Schnur, a GOP consultant, said he came in bracing for a "circular firing squad" but witnessed merely "a water balloon fight."
"This party did what you're supposed to do when you're looking to get back on track it argued its differences and put them aside and moved on," he said. "We're not going to solve them at a convention."
Whether or not the party emerges from its convention truly unified remains to be seen, but Republicans were clearly happy to get past the battle for the state party chairmanship.
The victor, former party Vice Chairman John McGraw, has said banning abortion is his No. 1 mission; his opponent, Nicholas Bavaro, said he would have focused on other issues. McGraw won decisively.
He preached harmony in his victory speech, and sought to rally the Republicans around the cause of beating Democrats.
"I want this to be the party of open and honest debate," he told the delegates. "But when that is done, I want us to unite and go after the Democrats."