All nine delegates from the local Republican Party will support John McCain's candidacy for president of the Unites States.
This marks the first time the Commonwealth GOP is participating in any U.S. election, as the group was admitted to the national Republican Party after the 2004 election.
"I think John McCain is the most qualified person for the job, said national representative Roman "Bo" Palacios. “He knows the islands. He's a leader in economic revival and he has the commitment to win the war.
McCain thanked the Northern Marianas Republicans for their support, stating, “I'm honored to have the support of these dedicated Republicans from the Commonwealth, and proud that for the first time their delegation will be able to join our party's convention in September.”
The endorsement of McCain by the local members of the National Republican Party coincided with the election of six delegates held during a meeting last Saturday evening at the Garapan Central Park.
The delegates chosen were Washington Representative Pedro A. Tenorio, Benigno Sablan, Roman Tudela, Ana Teregeyo, John Reyes, and Manual "Brown" Tenorio who raked in the most votes with 170.
The six will join the three automatic delegates- NMI Republican Party president Tom Pangelinan, national committeewoman MaryLou S. Ada, and Palacios-that will represent the CNMI GOP in the election of the party’s presidential candidate.
The nine delegates will travel to Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention on Sept. 1-4, 2008. At the convention, the Republicans will pick the party’s candidates for president and vice president.
A straw poll for the 2008 Republican presidential candidate was also held last night at the event and 90 percent of the CNMI Republicans voted for McCain, while Congressman Ron Paul and former governor Mike Huckabee split the remaining 10 percent.
Of the 500 people who registered in the historic event, at least 300 attended Saturday's event.
McCain recognized the Republican voters in the CNMI and sent a special message to them.
He addressed the CNMI republicans in a speech saying that he knows the island and its people.
"I look forward to working with MaryLou and chairman Tom on the presidential campaign and I encourage all of you to get involved," he said.
McCain said he believes he and the people can work together to address "economic problems, fix social security , enhance our education and ensure that our veterans are treated with decency and respect that they deserve."
"Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton want to increase the size of the federal govt, I intend to reduce it. I won’t sign a bill that has earmarks in it, any earmarks in it. I’ll fight for the line item veto and I won’t permit any expansion whatsoever of the entitlement programs that are bankrupting us," he said.
McCain said on the contrary, he intends to reform those programs so that government is no longer "in that habit making promises to the Americans that they do not intend to keep."
He added that while Clinton and Obama will raise your taxes, he intends to cut them.
"I’ll start by making the Bush Tax Cuts permanent. I’ll cut the corporate tax rates from 35 to 25 percent to keep industries and jobs in this country. I won’t let a democratic congress raise your taxes and choke the growth of your economy," said McCain.
He also said he intends to nominate judges like justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito "who have proven themselves worthy of our trust that they take as their sole responsibility."
He describes Roberts and Alito as "judges who can be relied upon to respect the values of the people whose rights, laws and property they’re sworn to defend."
McCain spoke of Clinton and Obama’s plans to withdraw forces from Iraq "based on an arbitrary time table designed for the sake of political expediency and which recklessly ignores a profound human calamity and dire threats to our security that would ensue."
He said he intends to win the war and trust in the proven judgement of U.S. commanders there and the courage and selflessness of the Americans they have the honor to command.
"I share the grief over the terrible losses we’ve suffered in this prosecution. There is no other candidate in this office who appreciates more than I do just how awful war is. But I know the costs in lives and treasure we would incur, should we fall in Iraq and fail, it would be far greater than the heartbreaking losses we have suffered today, And I will not allow that to happen," McCain said.
He added that in order to defeat the democrats and achieve these goals, he is seeking the help and support of CNMI
"I humbly ask you today even if you previously supported another candidate to join our team so that we can move forward as one party, united, in an effort to lead our country for a better tomorrow," said McCain.
Committee members Ada and Palacios had retained their seats in the local party.
The CNMI Republican National Committee had re-elected Ada and Palacios last night to serve the four-year term.
The board will conduct another general membership meeting in less than two months to elect their new president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.
Palacios said the group was very pleased with Saturday night’s event.
"Things could have been done a little bit different. But we are still very pleased. It was a great first effort," said Palacios.
The group extended appreciation to the students, faculty and staff from the Northern Marianas College for helping with registrations and the counting of last night’s ballots.
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