Understanding the Republican Convention
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Updated: 4:52 AM Feb 5, 2008
Understanding the Republican Convention
West Virginia's First Primary is set for Super Tuesday, but the big day is causing some big confusion.
Posted: 2:38 AM Feb 5, 2008
Reporter: Kallie Cart
Email Address: kallie.cart@wsaz.com
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West Virginia's First Primary is set for Super Tuesday, but the big day is causing some big confusion.

The Republican Presidential Candidates have to gain 1,191 delegates to win the primary. The number of delegates in each state varies. 30 delegates can be picked up in West Virginia, 45 in Kentucky and 88 in Ohio.

But because West Virginia's Primary is not until May 13, and historically a presidential nominee is usually decided by then, the state's Republican party has decided to split up their delegates and host a convention.

Eighteen of West Virginia's delegates will be decided at Tuesday's Republican Convention. Three delegates will be decided by the stat's GOP Chairman, Committeeman and Committeewoman. The remaining 9 delegates will, as usual, will go to the winner of the May primary in West Virginia where every registered Republican can vote.

More than 1,200 delegates are expected at the Republican Convention. These delegates are comprised of State Legislators, Republican committee members, and delegates from each county that were voted in either on-line or through the county's convention.

At the convention, they will hear from the Republican Presidential candidates or their representatives. Then one-by-one the delegates will voice their vote. If a Presidential candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the convention is over, that candidate wins and gets all 18 delegates. If a candidate does not receive more than 50% of the vote, the lowest vote getter will be eliminated and a second round of voting will begin. This will continue until there is a winner.

The delegates will then go on and represent West Virginia's GOP choice at the Republican National Convention in September.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Hilo on Feb 6, 2008 at 07:34 PM

I don't get it. So Huckabee is the new gov? I didn't get to vote. Manchine wass good.
Posted by: jk on Feb 6, 2008 at 10:38 AM

Romney thinks Joseph Smith is a prophet. I won't vote for him.
Posted by: Don on Feb 5, 2008 at 11:14 PM

Tara hit the nail on the head. The Republican convention in West Virginia is not democracy. And to Brian, Fred was my man, too. But without a choice to vote on who remains, I can only surmise that the Republican political machine in West Virginia knows more than I do and therefore will choose who I vote for.
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