Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's decision to suspend his campaign has left Howard County Republicans, like those across Maryland and the nation, with what may be a tough choice for some who don't consider Arizona Sen. John McCain conservative enough to lead their party in November.
"I've said all along I'll support the party nominee -- obviously not with the same enthusiasm, but it will build. It's frustrating," said Louis M. Pope, Romney's Maryland campaign chairman and a former Howard County Republican party chairman who is now a Republican National Committeeman.
Pope spoke just minutes after hearing news of Romney's decision Thursday, which instantly transformed Maryland's primary Tuesday from an exciting two-party contest into a Democratic race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (Romney's name, like that of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, will remain on the ballot).
Many of the GOP party leaders in Howard were Romney backers, and McCain had virtually no organization in the county. That was clear at a Super Tuesday gathering in a private room at the River Hill Sports Grille.
McCain supporters were in short supply at the Howard County Republican Club party Tuesday night, but former Del. Donald E. Murphy, McCain's Maryland campaign coordinator, was there and had a confident battle cry as his man rolled up victories.
"I'm hoping I'll give away more stickers as the night goes on," Murphy quipped as results appeared on a huge wall-mounted TV screen. "We're all friends," Murphy said, dismissing McCain's liabilities with Republican conservatives.
But Ivan Betancourt, a former club president who came to the United States from Venezuela, had a different view.
"Being a naturalized citizen, immigration is the most important issue for me," he said.
Betancourt had to work for years to be a legal immigrant and now a citizen, and he has no use for McCain's position on the hot-button issue, he said.
"If McCain's the guy, I'll be a no-pull," Betancourt said, meaning he will not vote for him.
State Sen. Allan H. Kittleman, a Mitt Romney supporter who also attended the event, sharply disagreed.
"I support the party," he said, noting that "it's very exciting. It's the most interesting election we've had since 1968."
Murphy has his work cut out for him. Like many Democratic couples split between Clinton and Obama, Murphy has yet to convince his wife, Gloria, to give up her support of Huckabee and back McCain.
"He's just a genuine guy. He's got a real appeal for women," she said of Huckabee. "I love John McCain, I backed him eight years ago. I just thought his time had passed."
That night, Pope said Romney's support was solid.
"I think most of Maryland is for Romney among the party leadership. No one in the state committee is supporting McCain," Pope said.
Tom D'Asto, a former County Council candidate who is now club president, said he too was rooting for Romney.
D'Asto said he respects Romney for admitting that he changed his mind on abortion to oppose it after upholding abortion rights as governor of liberal Massachusetts.
"He's convinced me he had his reasons for doing what he did," D'Asto said. "He changed his mind. I appreciate people who come out and say that."
At age 15, Atholton High School student Roy McShane isn't in party leadership -- he isn't even old enough to vote -- but he is politically active and is a McCain backer.
"I respect his [military] service a lot," he said. "He has an amazing ability to unify the country." Roy said he's less upset about illegal immigration than some.
"We just can't build a fence and militarily keep people out," he said.
Some, like current county party chair Joan Becker, had backed other candidates who dropped out before Romney's decision. She backed Rudolph W. Giuliani, while central committee member Trent Kittleman said she liked former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.
David Poyter and his wife, Angie, said they backed McCain for a very practical reason.
"He's the only one who can win," David Poyter said.
"He's the only potential president who can get the respect of the world," Angie added.
David Poyter was a bit worried about who the Democrats will nominate, though.
"If Obama wins, he's the next president," he said.
Obama, McCain
Barack Obama and John McCain are the primary election choices of the African American Coalition of Howard County.
The group announced its picks after sponsoring a candidates forum last month at St. John Baptist Church at which U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings was a surrogate speaker for Obama, and Maryland Secretary of Aging Gloria Lawlah represented Hillary Clinton.
Sherman Howell, the group's vice president, said in an announcement that "Obama has articulated a crucial vision for political transformation. Further, we believe that the most important difference between him and his opponent would be his Cabinet positions, filling them with people who are as innovative and progressive as he is."
McCain, the statement read, is "a maverick on public policy issues, is showing to be a less ideological conservative candidate than his opponent."
The group also endorsed incumbent congressmen Cummings and John Sarbanes, both Democrats, for re-election.
larry.carson@baltsun.com