Ron Paul supporters take on Louisiana GOP

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Ron Paul's supporters in Louisiana filed a challenge to the state's Republican delegation to the national convention, sparking insults from both sides.

At issue are the 17 delegates secured by Paul's showing against candidates Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney in Louisiana's sparsely attended April 28 state caucuses, the New Orleans, La., Times-Picayune reported Monday.

The 21-page challenge was filed last week with the Republican National Committee's Committee on Contests by attorneys retained by the Paul campaign to deal with delegate challenges in Louisiana, Massachusetts and Oregon, and compares Louisiana Republican Chairman Roger Villere to a North Korean despot, who, it claims, "attempted to impose anti-democratic convention rules that were without any authority."

The state party has said the Paul campaign attempted, at the June 2 party convention in Shreveport, to grab convention slots to the Republican Party's national convention in Tampa, that were filled by Santorum and Romney supporters, the newspaper said.

Charlie Davis led the Paul forces in Shreveport.

"Charlie Davis and his followers could have won 17 delegates to Tampa simply by voting at the state convention, but they abstained. We left 13 of the seats open and offered to fill the vacancies with Ron Paul supporters, but they demanded 24. Now, they file a challenge," said Jason Dore, Villere spokesman and state party executive director.